February 7, 2008
Sophie Jordan on Getting Serious in ‘08
Written by Sophie Jordan in Jaunty GuestsHey, everyone! At the kind invitation of the Jaunty Quills, I’ll be blogging here once or twice a month … sometimes I’ll talk writing, but probably more often than not I’ll simply share the chaotic ramblings of my neurotic mind. So here I go …
One of my many goals is to get in shape. I know, not too original, but it’s something I seriously need to do. After the birth of my son in September, I feel like such an out-of-shape slug. My primary focus is to get healthy – course I wouldn’t mind looking better, too. Honestly, some days my body just feels too old and tired for a thirty-something-year-old woman. So …enough is enough.
Well, there’s nothing like a little stomach flu to kick start one’s diet plans. 
For almost a week, I couldn’t even look at food without feeling queasy. Appetite back again, I’m eating right and determined to keep it up. I’ve even started back at the gym … and posting here is declaring to the world that I’m serious about getting healthy. You heard it here, folks. Sophie’s getting in shape.
Even DH, who is fit as far as I’m concerned, is getting on the band wagon with me. Of course, he really doesn’t need to lose weight – I know, sickening, right? He just wants to get “mean” and “ripped”. I’m trying to be supportive of his goal, but part of me is thinking, “Puh-lease!!” You’re at your goal weight already. Do you really need to look like Brad Pitt? Because I just want to reach goal weight! No one said anything about bouncing a nickel off my bottom! It reminds me of those commercials with the cartoon husband and wife who do the same thing to drop weight and the husband keeps losing weight while the wife doesn’t. Preaching to the choir, girl!
Which leads me to yesterday…
DH joined a boot camp. You know, one of those four week fitness courses that meet three times a week. Like I said, DH is in pretty good shape. He already works out several times a week, but just in case, he joined a beginners’ level boot camp. I was thinking a course like this might be good for me, too. Beginner to me implies that it wouldn’t be too strenuous. You know what I mean … some cardio but nothing to make me cry or puke my guts up. So I thought I might like to do this course next. Hey, I watch Biggest Loser and XWeighted (both great shows!) – they’ve inspired me into thinking I can handle at least a little pain.
WRONG.
When I came home yesterday it was to find the man I married sprawled face down on the living room rug, all the lights in the house turned off. The dogs were circling him and I thought he was dead. After a few moans and whimpers from his inert, 6 feet 1″, 190lbs form, I gathered he was not. Apparently, he came close though. So now I’m thinking “no” on the alleged beginners’ boot camp. I’ll continue to work out on my own and wish DH the best in claiming his Brad Pitt physique. Hey, I can enjoy that, too, after all.
What about any of you? I know Shana keeps in pretty good shape. Any of the rest of you vowing to get healthier in ’08?
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Shana Says:
I’m trying to eat better and eat fewer desserts. It sounds like you are off to a great start! Thanks for blogging with us today!
AndreaW Says:
Hi, Sophie!
Boy, do I hear ya! My hubby and I started our “healthy eating” regimen and walking/running (I walk, he runs) last fall. He lost 30 lbs. right away . . . it took me until recently to get to 25 lbs. and now I’m happy and finally at my goal weight. Why does it take us so much longer?? My hubby races in 5Ks, 10Ks, 15Ks now and is running a half marathon in March. So, through hard work, he found a hobby that he loves: running!
Good luck to you and your DH!!
Margo Maguire Says:
Guys have it so much easier! My dh and I went away for a weekend last summer and we did a lot of walking. 8-10 miles a day. We ate the same stuff, too. He lost 4 lbs and I GAINED 4 lbs!! What is up with that?!
Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler Says:
Glad I’m not the only one. Isn’t it unfair?
I made polenta last night with roasted veggies. It was yum-o, to quote Rachael Ray … but DH thought it was an appetizer! I think he was looking for a side of steak.
And he could probably eat that, too, and still lose weight.
I wish I could run like your husband, Andrea. My mind wants to be a runner … just not my body.
Sophie
Isabel Says:
The very best to you and your DH, Sophie,
We’re so out of shape here it’s not even funny anymore.
The DH has the flu right now (I was down with it a couple of weeks ago) after he gets better we’ll head back to the gym. Getting started is the hard part, it goes without saying, it’s cold and rainy outside, but it’s a health issue for the DH if we don’t get in shape.
I feel motivated just to hear you all talk about getting in shape. Thanks!
Amy Says:
Well, I do the Weight Watchers, so I am always trying to eat right and be healthy. I can use all the help I can get…LOL I have not started on the next stage of my plan. WORKING OUT. I have invested in a membership to our local YMCA so that my entire family can join in the fun as well. Actually, I am going to work out, and since it is to cold for the 3 children to go outside, they are going to run off all stored up energy that they have!!! *G*
Amy
Shirley Karr Says:
Sophie, I hear ya! I had a baby last July, and it’s just not fair that all that walking with the colicky baby did not budge the scale. When we go walking in the state park nearby (set in a canyon, lots of up and down on the trails) my DH loses 5 lbs to my 1 lb.
Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler Says:
I hear ya! I just saw a new commercial with the cartoon wife and hubby … him shrinking and she balooning … sigh. Story of my life.
But give yourself some slack, Shirley. You DID have a baby.
I keep telling myself it’s going to take awhile. I’d rather it come off slowly if it means I’ll have a better chance of keeping it off.
Andrea, congrats on the weight loss! That’s great.
Amy, have you tried the elipetical (sp?) machine? I don’t really like working out either, but I like using that. It’s low impact and you burn quite a bit of calories.
Isabel, I hope you and DH get better. Try soup - low calorie and it makes you feel better.
Hugs,
S
Fedora Says:
Hi, Sophie! Glad to read your blog today–I’ve been such a slug lately, and don’t have any definite plans towards fitness, but have that more as a loose aspiration. We got a Wii late last year, and the kids are laughing themselves silly over our attempts at the Hottest Dance Party–heh. Mainly my exercise consists of walking the kids to and from school on not-rainy days… we’ll see how that goes
That’s too funny about your poor DH–hope he’s feeling better!
Sophie Jordan/Sharie Kohler Says:
Fedora,
That’s so funny about the Wii - I actually heard a story about someone recently that lost tons of weight since they got one. Hey, at least it’s a game that requires activity … not a bad thing!
Best,
S
ladydawgfan Says:
Hi Sophie! Glad to know you’ll be joining the Quills, even on a limited basis.
As to the weight loss, I was told that it didn’t come on overnight, so it won’t be coming off overnight either. In my case, my blasted gall bladder decided my weight loss program for me last fall. Fatty foods meant lots of pain and possibly emergency surgery, so I went low to no-fat immediately. I wasn’t counting calories, just fat grams. As a result, I have been dropping weight like crazy (at least 2 pants sizes so far), I have lost my cravings for fatty or greasy foods, and I don’t really feel like I am depriving myself of anything. Friends and family are starting to notice the difference in my size and are commenting on it to me and to my mother who has been my top supporter in this battle.
I know that I will have to have the surgery eventually, according to my doctor. However, I have already told my mother that I will not be going back to my old eating habits and the fatty food lifestyle. I am enjoying the results of the lowfat diet too much to let them go. The weight loss that I can see and feel, the need to buy new clothes because my old ones are too BIG for once, people commenting positively on my new size all are HUGE reasons not to change what I have been doing so far. So as to what I will be doing for ‘08? Much of the same, Sophie, much of the same!! Wish me continued success!!!
Taryn Raye Says:
My husband thought I was crazy when I told him that I wanted a Gazelle for my birthday…I ordered it from Tony Little’s site though and I’m waiting for it to arrive. It wasn’t necessarily a resolution this year, but I’m starting to struggle into my jeans and that’s NOT good.
I’m going to start out slow and work my way up on the Gazelle and do it everyday. Hopefully that will help a lot. I think I eat decent portions of food, but it could still be the types of foods I eat- which in a house full of picky eaters its hard to alter the menu without someone grumbling they don’t like this or that.
Best of luck Sophie!! And everyone else!
Virginia H. Says:
Oh yes! Every year I am going to get into shape. I mean well and will start exercising twice a day. Even got new exercising machine for Christmas and have been using it. My problem is no matter how hard I work out I still don’t lose any weight. I think I would have to live on lettuce just to lose a lb. Then I wind up giving up. Same old roller coaster.