Ben’s Profile Journey: Feeling Good and Beating Cardio Boredom

Hi, Ben here, and I’m embarking on a mission to not be fat when I turn 42. To do that I’ve partnered with Profile by Sanford and I want to take you with me on my journey.

Hey everyone! Things on my Profile journey are going pretty good still! Another week with less struggle and more feeling like this new life is real. My pants are baggy and my wife comments on the changes almost daily. So I'm feeling pretty good about things.

The pounds aren't melting off like a glacier in Arizona, but as my Profile coach Erika tells me every week, "You didn't gain the weight in a month, you're not going to lose it in a month." Intellectually I know my impatience is not realistic, and my coach's reminders help fight that voice in my head.

To supplement the eating plan, I am starting to integrate regular exercise into my life. Nothing crazy, I'm not starting from sedentary scratch, but I still need to start small. I have lots of strength in my body, but my stamina has really taken a hit over the last few years. So, I've started with cardio.

Do you want to know what's really boring? Cardio. And if I was a superhero, boredom would be my arch nemesis. So much of my life is centred around staving off boredom. In fact, I'm probably lucky that I grew up before mobile tech. Aside from being lucky that my high school years weren't documented in digital pictures (and collage and my 20's) I had to learn how to entertain myself and keep my brain busy.

So, now when I need to spent 20 to 30 minutes on a treadmill my brain goes into a panic. But, I have discovered that the smartphone is now my faithful sidekick. It turns out that it's easy to knock out a couple of miles walking on the treadmill when I have Netflix. And when I need a change of pace I discovered that I can comfortably read books on my phone and listen to music. With my brain properly occupied, I have fewer and fewer excuses to not exercise. I'd been wanting to rewatch Mad Men, now I have to perfect chance to do that. It's working so good that some days I can't wait to get to the gym and watch my show.

Exercise, like eating better food, is one of those things that I've know works to make you feel better. It makes you feel better in the way that your bad habits promise, but don't deliver. I'm still close enough to remember how bad I felt, physically and emotionally, with no exercise, that the good effects still seems like a magic trick. I'm bleeding off my daily build-up of anxiety and making room to handle the day.

Along with taking it easy because I'm restarting exercise, I'm also keeping it simple because while I want to burn calories, I don't want to work out too hard that it makes me extra hungry. The goal is to supplement my Profile eating plan, not undermine it. That's why for me its better to focus on cardio right now. As I progress in both the eating and exercise, I want to add a little strength training without increasing my body's demand for fuel too much. And really, I spend my working and leisure lives not moving a whole bunch so I have plenty of room to maneuver there.

All in all I am happy to report another positive week on Profile to you guys. The summer ended on a dark note, but with the support of my Profile coach I made it through without giving up and am now back on track to No Fat 42.

Keep up with Ben's journey by bookmarking Ben's blog. Got a question or comment? Connect on Twitter or email at ben@hot1047.com.

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