Pursuing Balance & Joy

No More Meatlessness?

Wednesday, September 29th, 2010

Hi, friends!

Wow. I think this is only my first or second birthday on Facebook, and the love is kind of overwhelming and completely awesome. I love my birthday anyway, but just those simple messages from friends and family have made my day amazing. I know I say a lot how blessed I am, but it’s so true! I’m a lucky girl.

Also, my heart rate monitor gave me calorie-free birthday cake. Check this out:

That just makes me smile…plus, check out my awesome long fingernail!

I really didn’t come here to talk about my birthday today. I came here to say that I have decided not to be a vegetarian anymore. I haven’t decided that means I’ll ever eat meat again though. (Confused? You should be in my head. Wow.)

I learned a lot from my 3+ months of meatlessness. I learned that my body doesn’t NEED meat ever. I feel strong and awesome and great as long as I’m getting enough protein and not overeating. I learned that it doesn’t matter nearly as much what I eat as how much I eat. I learned that how I eat completely determines how much I eat.

I do think I feel better when I don’t eat meat. That hasn’t changed. I have had meat twice, I think, in these three months. I didn’t particularly enjoy it either time. A few times though, I think I would have eaten healthier if I had considered meat an option. That’s why I’m deciding not to be a vegetarian. I still think that I’ll choose the meatless option most of the time, but I want to stop ruling out food simply because it is meat. Does that make any sense? It’s okay if it doesn’t.

So that’s where I am today. Where are you today? I hope it’s somewhere fantastic!

Posted in Diet, Holidays | 2 Comments »

My Weight Loss Team

Tuesday, September 28th, 2010

Hi, friends!

Well, on my first day of working out after four days of healing, I did 191 floors in the morning and rode 21 miles on my bicycle in the evening. Take it easy? Yeah, I don’t do that.

Seriously though, I did both workouts at 70% of my usual intensity and just enjoyed them. The ride last night was along Lake Michigan, and it was so relaxing and beautiful. I should really start posting more pictures! I do have some awesome Chicago pictures, but they aren’t from last night’s ride:

I have zillions more…another time…now on to today’s topic:

I said a while back that you want a team with you on your weight loss journey. I absolutely know that I would not have been this successful without my team. It’s not just the support they provide; it’s that they motivate, commiserate, inspire, complain, plan and celebrate with me.

One person just can’t do all that all the time. Can you imagine how exhausting that would be? How would they ever have their own life? Yikes.

Also, not everyone on your team needs to know they’re on your team. Huh? Yeah, that’s what I said.

Some of my team are podcasters, bloggers, authors, celebrities and the like. I get motivated and inspired by them. Through seeing their victories, I’m able to celebrate my own a little bit too. I think having a virtual team is every bit as important as having a real-life team. That’s been especially true for me because there are only a couple members of my real-life team who have been with me for the whole journey. I’ve changed projects, jobs and homes during this journey. I’ve made and lost friends as a result of those things and other things. I got divorced. I met a new special someone (after dating several not-so-special someones…bleh) and got engaged!!

You get the idea, right? This journey has dramatically changed my life, and there just aren’t many people who’ve gone through it all with me. (I’m incredibly thankful for those who have! T & C, I love you both!!)

My virtual team has changed along the way too. Most of them are podcasters and coaches I’ve mentioned before. The two most important are absolutely Sandra Ahten and Scott Smith. They continue to motivate me regularly. Also, I am a big fan of the Biggest Loser, and the cast of each season so far has been very motivating for me. I follow several of them on Twitter and still am constantly inspired there.

I could go on and on with a huge list of podcasts and blogs and books and such, but I won’t do that to you. If you have questions, please email or leave a comment and I’ll elaborate.

The important thing I want to convey is that it takes a team, in every form, to support your journey (and your life, in my opinion). They aren’t likely to just come find you. Seek them out. Get the support you need in whatever form works for you.

Do you have the team you need? Can I help? If you even remotely think I can, email me at elizabeth@eikemire.com. I’d be honored. You deserve the best team you can gather.

Posted in Diet, Exercise | 5 Comments »