I've been thinking a lot about next year. What I want to accomplish with Misfit Hikers and with myself. And I've come to a realization that I need to focus less on my weight and more on my goals. What is it I want my body to be able to do? And what do I need to be able to do to get there? When I'm 75, I'm not going to give a shit about a roll (unless it's Pillsbury). What I am going to care about is whether I'm able to still do the activities I love and if I'm still able to try new adventures. For most of my life, I've set arbitrary weight goals. I want to weight 135 pounds. I want to lose 40 pounds. I want to be size 8. Over the past year, I've really been examining whether or not those goals are a) realistic b) healthy and c) what I actually want. Truthfully, they're none of those things. I'm tired of the constant fight with food, with clothes, with the ups and downs. And so this year, I'm going to focus more on my overall HEALTH as opposed to my weight. I'll still (try to) eat an anti-inflammation diet, and some weight-loss might be a side effect of that, it's no longer going to be the main goal. Mainly, I want to focus on how I want my body to function and the adventures I want to accomplish. I'm going to Australia in April - how do I do that flight with my back? How do I hike further and carry more weight in my pack? I want to go rafting. And try rock climbing and scrambling. And I want to be able to do those things in 30 years. So I'm going to focus on building up strength and flexibility through activity (I'm never going to be a gym rat). But really, though, fuck it. I want my hiking and my cheesecake, too. What do you think? Comment below or email me here!
4 Comments
Clara
12/3/2019 01:36:45 pm
It’s so hard! We’re wired from such a young age to emphasize weight and the benefits of weight rather than health and fitness. I’ve struggled so much with this myself, and kudos to you for writing about it :)
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Ms. Misfit (Jenn)
12/3/2019 03:49:18 pm
Aw, thank you! You’re completely right - we’ve managed to equate weight with health, and it just doesn’t pain an accurate picture.
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Benjamin Mathis
12/3/2019 04:44:01 pm
I dig it. I wanna climb mountains next year. So training for that is high on my list
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