I work in an office. Like most American workers I am working constantly on my computer typing away day in and day out working on the projects that I am tasked with. Even though I am active I have slowly gained weight throughout the years. Three to five pounds each year that I’ve worked for my company.
That weight gain now totals around 25 pounds. Luckily for me the weight has settled in such a way that if you didn’t know me from before you wouldn’t think that there was a problem. But, if you knew me from before (and hadn’t seen me in years) you would think that I look a little…bloated. But, all over. Huh.
Just like with my money situation I’ve been a bit overwhelmed by the weight loss process. First, I needed to wrap my head around the fact that I had gained 25 pounds! I couldn’t deny the weight gain anymore because I could feel it. Every day, every moment both physically and emotionally.
Even though I’m fairly active, I’m just not fit physically. Walking fast has begun to tire me out. In fact, I have been getting easily winded when walking up stairs. My thighs have been rubbing together-and have worn holes in some of my jeans. My clothes had begun to fit badly and I’ve stopped taking pictures of myself because I didn’t like the way I looked. If you check my personal Facebook feed you would see that I had stopped posting photos for the past 6 months.
I have a muffin top instead of a six pack and have been squeezing myself into my pants for months. My muffin top has thoughtfully settled over my belt as a friendly reminder of all of the emotional eating I’ve been doing for the past couple of years. I remember having a six pack. It was hot! I loved having it. There is a reason why people with six packs show them off. They work hard to get them and I was kind of obsessed and worked on it every single day.
At this point my confidence has been dealt a blow. Because having money problems and being out of shape at the same time makes you feel even more crappy and overwhelmed by a life that isn’t going the way that you would like it to.
So, in a desperate attempt to pull myself together I bought an online coupon deal for a month of Unlimited hot yoga. My fitness focus also may have coincided with being a bridesmaid in a wedding in London. I will be the only American there and am feeling the pressure to represent my people (my fellow Americans!) Will also be whitening my teeth before I go. LOL.
The universe is on my side though. My job has just launched a health and wellness program. Employees who log in an activity at least 12 times a month for the next year will be paid $300. We will be paid quarterly and I am really excited about this program.
This came at the right time for me because I have finally, finally gotten serious about working through the process of getting fit. This seems to be a new trend that companies are embracing. I’m not sure how successful these programs are, but when you look at how much companies pay out in sick leave health and wellness programs seem like a good investment.
By the way, the beginning stages of getting fit really suck. Let’s identify those stages.
- Admitting there is a problem-I knew I was getting bigger and my friends from overseas who saw me would mention it when they saw me. Nothing mean or cruel. Just asking what’s going on with you? My friends The Venezuelan and The Russian both mentioned something in passing
- Procrastination-I was overwhelmed by the whole process and wanted to postpone dealing with it. Procrastination is what kept me from dealing with my finances and my weight gain. However, the more I focused on my debt the harder it has become for me to ignore the weight gain. Have you noticed that a lot of personal finance bloggers seem to suddenly get really focused on fitness as they get more and more focused on debt repayment? There is a definite connection between money and health. But, I’m no doctor. Just calling it how I see it.
- Start-I didn’t have a well thought out plan other than to begin walking more. I knew that I needed to get the burn on, but I just needed to start doing something,anything first. I have to accept that I won’t lose weight for awhile. I just had to start moving. I purchased a pedometer for $9.99 at KMART. I began the 10,000 steps challenge. I never mentioned this before because I do so many challenges. It was amazing what a huge change that cheap exercise tool made for me. I sit for a large part of my day. The first week I averaged around 4,000 steps on the days that I didn’t go to Spanish class. With the pedometer I began to average at least 8,000 steps a day or more. During the weekends I now average around 14,000 steps because I try to walk everywhere-especially as we move further into spring and summer.
- Getting addicted to the burn-I’m in this stage now and I remember it from before. I used to love the feeling of “the burn.” I used to be a dancer. I would dance for hours. Dance takes me to another mental plane. There is an endorphin rush that dance gives me that almost nothing else does. It was never exercise, it was pure joy. I don’t love it yet. The burn that is. But, I’m starting to crave the feeling of pushing myself past my current limits. I’m even considering taking dance again for no other reason than to see if I can push myself and feel that rush again.
- Becoming hardcore…and conceited (convinced again!) Not even close yet.
Currently I am at stage number 4. I have become addicted to the burn. The thing that I’m finding out is the days that I really don’t want to go and exercise are the days that I have to go and do it. Kind of like with personal finance and debt repayment In order to get to the other side there is the pain that you have to go through. But, people are afraid of the pain because they think it will defeat them. Embrace it.
Getting Paid To Lose Weight
Are you motivated yet? What’s stopping you? Be forgiving of yourself and start with baby steps. Maybe you can join an online challenge that pays out a lump sum to the winner of the challenge?
Good luck,
Michelle
Crossfit peeps are intense! *Coolest thing ever. This is Kelsey from Kelsey Wilson Fitness!
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Wow that’s awesome that they will pay! Definitely a great motivator 🙂
I’ve had more hardcore workouts in the past couple of weeks then I have in the past year. I want to lose the weight and I want my $$ hehe.
Hear hear! It’s all about discipline and hard work. If you want to lose weight, work hard for it. There’s no easy way out.
So true. Yesterday we had a snowstorm-there were still people jogging throughout the day. No more excuses!
Weddings and money are two great motivators to lose weight. I will be the bride come October and I want to get back down to the size I was when my fiance met me five years ago (which means I need to lose 40 pounds). After trying on dresses, seeing pictures of me in them and realizing I only have 6 months to go, I’ve upped the intensity! I’m looking forward to getting back to stage 4. 🙂
Plus my fiance said that even if I just lost 10 pounds, he would pay to get my dress altered!
You’re going to rock that size 4! Yep, the $ and the wedding have put a fire under my butt and I am trying to kick some a@@. I’m doing hot yoga almost everyday and it’s working.
Use runkeeper to track your walks and join me and erika at from shopping to saving as friends. Look me up. I’m tlscali. I know where you’re coming from about the muffin top. If I’m spilling over or squeezing it in at all then I know things have to change. I get toned everywhere but my middle, with as much working out as I do it’s so frustrating to see not budge (ha ha I typed budget first) at all! I think that has more to do with being over 40. Even my mom is rail thin but has a pooch. ugh! I’ve also become a lot more disciplined with my diet. I have to. I’m cutting out as much gluten and dairy as I can to see if that helps. I think it’s good you are getting focused now…you’ll get there. Let me know if I can help in any way!
Darn muffin top!!! It must die! I will def. do run keeper am home sick today as I think I either have food poisoning or just have a stomach upset. I am pretty good about my diet but I could always be better. I’m not gluten free now, but, when I was all of my joint pain went away. It felt great-but, I love bread/crackers/etc too much. Am trying to find some good alternatives. Thanks for the support and right back at ya!We are going to rock FinCon13 hehe.
I’m also on RunKeeper! Look me up. 🙂 I’m only walking/lightly running right now but I fully plan on getting back to fitness once my wedding is done and over with.
My company uses a website called My Health Media. I think it’s a pretty huge contract. They basically are keeping track of the exercise that we do so that when they pay us it’s legit!
PS that’s SO awesome your company is doing that!
I have to admit I giggled a lot that day 🙂 when I saw that email. I was willing to exercise for free but this is so much better.
Ok, you must have a great company for them to do something like that! I hope that it provides the motivation that you need. I think I told you this in Denver, but maybe not – there is no way I would have guessed that you wanted to lose weight when I met you.
It is a great organization…I weigh more than it looks like. I am always a little surprised when I look at the scale. I lucked out because the weight settled evenly. I love food and I spent a lot of time emotionally eating=weight gain. Add to that a nice sprinkle of stress and I gained 25 pounds in the past few years. I only want to lose about 12-15 pounds though and add some muscle.
So it sounds like you really want to change your body composition and not your size as much. Make sure you take lots of pictures so you can see the differences! 🙂
I think you’re right! Am trying to keep focused and keep plugging away.
That’s really awesome your company has that offer!! Desk jobs are awful in increasing “secretary spread” (hate the phrase, but it’s sadly what’s going on with my bottom half these days).
I hate the “secretary spread” I’m just so over it.
That’s very cool! I could get behind this if it was ‘healthy eating’ or something (if I lost any weight it would probably be pretty dangerous for my health…)
Some of the staff at work organise an information ‘Biggest Loser’ challenge, but we definitely have no organised schemes in this kind of area.
I would love a Biggest Loser Challenge! But, all of my colleagues are pretty fit. I love getting paid to exercise and it came at the right time.
Thanks for posting my picture Michelle 🙂 My husband thought it would be a funny idea to get a picture of her on my back while working out. Normally I wouldn’t do that because her safety comes first (obviously haha) but this picture sure did motivate a lot of people and helped moms (and moms-to-be) take care of not only their children but themselves. Keep at it and enjoy! If you ever have any questions, you can find me on Facebook (http:www.Facebook.com/KelseyWilsonFitness)
Kelsey, this is the coolest thing ever! I actually am in the process of taking out all of the pictures that I didn’t take or don’t have a photo credit for. Now I can keep your picture up!! I actually like this picture because there are no excuses! Living in Denver you actually see moms/dads exercising with their teeny tinies all the time so that’s the other reason I liked this picture so much. I was hella motivated after seeing this picture. Thank you for your kind offer-I might just take you up on it.