Maintenance
There have been a lot of comments RE:maintenance in response to my last
several posts. It has made me realize that while many of us that are in
maintenance, writing here about out daily ups and downs, I have not seen (at
least lately) a post about how maintenance in general is going. How our
daily lives shake out... "what maintenance is like" for a lack of better
words.
First, a definition:
maintain One entry found for *maintain*.
Pronunciation: mAn-'tAn
Function: *transitive verb*
Etymology: Middle English *mainteinen,* from Anglo-French *maintenir,
maynteiner,* from Medieval Latin *manutenEre,* from Latin *manu tenEre* to
hold in the hand
*1* *:* to keep in an existing state (as of repair, efficiency, or validity)
*:* preserve from failure or decline
*2* *:* to sustain against opposition or danger *:* uphold and defend
maintain* a position>
*3* *:* to continue or persevere in *: CARRY
ON,
KEEP UP *
composure>
*4 a* *:* to support or provide for *b* *:
SUSTAIN *
*maintain*life>
* *
In it's strictest sense, maintenance is about keeping an existing state
(achieved healthy weight, general health, physical wellness, being in shape,
etc). But if one keeps on in this static state of simply keeping the status
quo after achieving ones goals there is little chance of long term
successful "Health Maintenance". Simply sustaining the efforts put forth
during active weight loss are not going to cut it. Everything in life is in
a constant state of flux. Life happens---changes come about, and all of a
sudden things are not quite the way they were before. The ability to deal
with the changes---challenges even, and come out ahead is vital. Even if
nothing ever changed, thinking the same old same old is going to see you
through is not going to work because lets face it... we get bored easily.
It is about carrying on and keeping up the good work, but also keeping it
fresh, setting and working towards new goals, and continually adapting to
new situations and sometimes setbacks. For me, the key is knowing how to
adapt to the curve balls life throws us from time to time.
At the beginning of the year I listed out a nice long list of goals. One of
those was to train for and finish a triathlon. I was really excited about
doing this, and couldn't wait to start training.... Then my foot happened.
All of a sudden working out in any way similar to what I had been was out
the window. I slid a bit, and didn't work out at all really for a month or
so. When I did go back, running seemed out of the question... and my passion
for participating in a Tri had seemed to wane. Instead of getting down on
myself for not being able to---or really having the drive to do a Tri, I
decided to shift focus. Now I am working on a weight training program AND
devoting more time to Yoga. Both seem like areas I can get a lot of rewards
out of---so shifting goals was fine, and I am not a failure for giving up on
my original ones---I am simply realistic and adapting to my life as it
changes around me. This to me is the essence of maintenance---keeping on the
ball and rolling with the punches--Not forgetting where we came from, but
not trying to stay in the same place either.
Right now I am working out 6 days a week---3 days of cardio, 3 days of
abs/yoga. I am eating about 1500 calories a day. I am staying away from
sugar and alcohol. I am not eating bread. This is working for me now--to get
back to "good", as I like to call it, after the foot setback, and the Mexico
trip. I will go back to my whole wheat toast with natural PB, or my
occasional glass of wine with dinner.... once I am back and feel
comfortable.... because that is how I work maintenance... as a constant
check up and adjustment to the status quo... not the end of the journey.
"The future is not some place we are going, but one we are
creating. The paths to it are not found but made, and the
activity of making them changes both the maker and the
destination."
John Schaar