I Must Begin my Journey

Dear Rachel,

When I read the title to your post these lyrics from Stephen Sondheim's musical started to run through my head:

"Into the woods, It's time to go, I hate to leave, I have to, though. Into the woods--
It's time, and so I must begin my journey."

This is one of my favorite musicals ever. I even tried out for Little Red Riding Hood's part in a production of it once, but I didn't end up getting the part because...well... basically...my boobs were too big...more on that uncomfortable subject in a different blog entry though.

Image Credit

Anyway, as I told you in my last blog, my '40 miles into the woods' (or however many miles I've actually gone) is getting me NO WHERE. It's like I journeyed into the woods only to find darkness and I'm running around in circles until I come out of the woods in the same place I started...*sigh* but don't worry this isn't just another entry where I'm going to whine.

Today I had a fitness/wellness exam complete with consultation at the end. Turns out I'm pretty healthy my waist measurement is even where it should be, my blood pressure could be better...but my weight is awful. I knew what the results would be and yet getting them and talking about them with someone was still emotional.

"I've been trying so hard..." I said.
"For how long?" The wellness consultant asked..we will call him Dr. Derek for the sake of alliteration...

"About 8 weeks now..."

Then I proceeded to tell him I've been working out about 5 days a week and eating no more than 2000 calories each day...I have fallen off this routine/pattern a couple times, but not many for 8 weeks.

"I see," Dr. Derek said. "And what kind of exercise have you been doing?"
I told him I usually split time up between cardio and strength training for about thirty to forty-five minutes and that the cardio is usually high in intensity, like running.

"Okay," He said. "I'm routing for you...you seem to have a very athletic muscular build, so let's try something...most people get the best weight loss results with cardio. 30 minutes at least 3 times-should be 5 times- a week."


I blinked at Dr. Derek.

"Not high intensity, because high intensity burns carbs not fat, but moderate intensity on an elliptical or treadmill should start burning the fat. Do you think you can do that?"

Yeah, easy enough...but wait does this mean I've actually been working too hard at losing weight? I nodded at him.

"Okay," he said. "Let's write that down, your goal is to do 30 minutes of moderate cardio...how many days a week would you like me to put down?"

"Five." I told him, determined to do the ideal goal, not the slacker one.

"Five days a week it is then...eat healthy and hopefully by the end of the month you will have lost at least 4 pounds, if not we will go back to the drawing board."

I sat there and looked at the new goal Dr. Derek had written down for me. A new goal that may even work, the determination is on again. Just then a song floated back into my head, Into the woods it's time to go, I hate to leave I have to though, into the woods--it's time and so I must begin my journey...