Motivation

First of all, I would like to take the time to thank all the people who voted in my Wii Fitness Poll. I also want to personally thank the person who posted “Choose the one YOU want.”

I have decided to compromise, and pick ONE of the ones I really wanted to work with, but also received a large amount of votes. So with that out there on the table I wanted to announce that I will be using Biggest Loser for the Wii.





I took the time and set up a profile for each of the systems mentioned in the poll, and I also spend around 20 minutes in each game feeling out how it worked.

It became clear to me very quickly that I was not going to enjoy using the Wii Fit/Wii Fit Plus - Software Only enough to keep me motivated for a full two weeks. The biggest downfall seemed to be the availability of built in workout programs to use. I did like the flexibility of all the games and free play options, and I am aware there is a way to chain them together to create a personalized workout program, but the main issue with me is I want to be told exactly what to do, at least to start.

All the other games I polled had this option so then it came down to a matter of which one received the most votes, and Biggest Loser won it with 19% of the votes. I also get the feeling this will be a fun and motivating one to start with. It seems very versatile, allowing you to manually enter calories consumed and burned as well as calculating calories burned while doing the workouts it selects for you.

I also love the “challenges” and “weigh-ins” like they have in the Biggest Loser television series. I think this is going to be a blast to work with! I’ll let you know more as it progresses along, but not yet!

And here is the catch! I have decided I am going to use this to achieve a weight loss goal for 2010. With all the stresses and yummy foods around during the Holiday season, I know that now is the worst time to start a weight loss program. So January 1st, it’s on!

Do you have Biggest Loser for Wii? If not yet, maybe you can ask Santa for Christmas! And if you do have it, and want to set, track and share your weight loss goals with me, comment below. Let’s take this journey together!

In the meantime however, I am not giving up. I have started making small changes in diet and behaviors. I take the stairs when I have the energy (I work on the 7th floor). I am trying to eat more fresh vegetables and fruit. I am trying to drink more water. I have started attending a regular colorguard group. And, I have instituted an exercise allowance.

What is an exercise allowance you ask? It’s my motivation to get in shape.

The biggest issue with most people when they finally decide they want to knuckle down and get in shape is finding the motivation not only to start, but to stick with it. And so I have devised my very own workout allowance.

The principle is simple. I pay myself to exercise. I base the rates on how much I hate the exercise and reward myself accordingly. Then I allow myself to spend my allowance on things I wouldn’t usually waste money on. I did something similar when I quit smoking over three years ago, and it worked so well I figured why not?

Here is a sample of the allowance schedule I have created for myself:

Stairs Down $0.50
Stairs Up $3.00
Lunch Walk $1.00
Walk the Dog $2.00
Workout > 20 min. $5.00

Actually, now that I think of it, maybe I should increase the rate for the dogs. They have too much energy. Here they are if you are interested...



Of course, the easier it becomes for me to do these things, the lower the price will get on each of them.

To date I have raised $49.50 – it will be $50.00 by the time I leave work.

I have already ordered my new rifle for colorguard.



Works for me!

What about you? What kind of things do you use for motivation?

And So It Begins...

This is my first entry here on my new blog, Everything Gwenny. I'm guessing it would make sense to let you know why I have decided to start blogging.

Mostly, it's for me. It will help me keep myself accountable as I start on this journey to rediscover who I am, the me that makes me happy. I welcome you to come along if you like. I'll try not to bore you too much. I'll even throw in some reviews and other fun stuff every now and then to break of the monotony of my life. I also plan on incorporating a lot of polls to let people have their say over what I should do next.

So what do I need to discover? What am I unhappy with? There is much I could tell you, but this is only the first entry after all, so let's start with the most important issue nagging at the back of my brain (and getting closer to encompassing the whole thing with every passing day). My physical appearance.

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Up until recently I have been pretty satisfied (sometimes ecstatic) about how I look, and how people react to the way I look. It started many, many years ago when I discovered colourguard - also referred to as flag spinning (now there's a story or two in itself). Basically it can be described as a mixture of weaving various styles of dance together with the "spinning" of various pieces of equipment such as flags, sabers and rifles. It was something I highly enjoyed. I practiced almost every day, and my body showed it. I was thin, toned, full of energy...everything I am not today.

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I can't blame it on childbirth either. This is me about 18 months after the birth of my son. I doubt there is an ounce of fat on me.

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This picture was taken 3-4 years after that. Still looking pretty good I must say!

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Two marriages, and two divorces later...I was still very happy with the way I looked and the impression I tended to make on the others around me.

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So when did it all go wrong?

I believe a combination of finally quitting smoking (3 years clean now) and being hired to a "cushy" desk job helped to initiate my downward slide.

My friends all say, "There's nothing wrong with the way you look. You look fine!" But then why does that quiet nice Chinese lady who works in the corner office always get the urge to rub my tummy when she is standing beside me?

I can see it. That's all that really matters. That's me....and I'm not happy.

I'm not saying I'm obese. I'm not even saying I'm fat. What I am saying is that I'm overweight. Even my wii thinks so and makes my little mii look pudgy!

Some people might roll their eyes at me and tell me I am being ridiculous, but when a woman who used to range between 100 and 115 pounds gets on a scale and looks down to see the numbers creeping over the 160 pound mark, I think she has every right to feel upset with herself if she wants to. It's so bad (to me at least) that I don't even let people take pictures of me anymore.

And that's where I am now. I'm upset. I'm depressed. And I'm pissed off! I'm pissed off at myself for letting it go this far. I am the only one to blame, and now I am the only one who can make a change for the better.

But I do need your support and encouragement. Give me shit when I slack off, slap me a virtual high-five when I accomplish a goal. Share your tears and triumphs with me so we can experience this journey together.

The journey starts today. Will you join me? I hope so!

Step One: Choose an initial workout program.

Here's where the first poll comes in. Help me choose which wii related fitness program to try. I will track my workouts and even write a review of the system after two weeks. After that we can choose a new system, or keep on trucking along with the current system if we are really enjoying ourselves.


Have your say! Thank you in advance for making this journey with me!