Y- FIT - Reality Weight Loss Journey with Cynthea Wight Hausman - Week 2

 At Miguel's sponsoring a Singles Party with Seven Days

Hello.  My name is Cynthea.  I'm a 40-something single mom who owns her own business and is overweight.  I’m joining the Summer Y-Fit program with Alexandra Jasinowski to take my own advice and make my health a priority.

Day 1: Insanity . . .

Slept late, had to bring my son to the Dr. (like we do almost every Monday).  15 minutes late.  Good report from the Doc. I am supposed to make it to my first workout with Y-FIT at 10am it is now 10:04 and I still need to drive my son back to daycare and then get downtown to the now waiting Press for our interview and weigh in.  Not going to happen.  Decide to bring my son to the YMCA and luckily there is Member Daycare so he can play there while I give my first interview to FOX 44.  I am nervous.  I do well in front of a camera, must be the years of media training on the US Luge National Team.  I think I do an alright job of explaining why this program will help me and why it’s so important to put yourself at the top of the list.  But, deep inside I am feeling like “FAT” on display.  Hi, I’m Cynthea, I’m fat.  It’s mean.  It’s not fair.  But, that is what my inner self is saying at this very moment.  I recognize the inner talk as unhelpful at best and self sabotage at worst.  But, I am hanging in there and not taking it very seriously. There is a huge shift happening right now.  A great shift but, a not completely comfortable shift. PHEW.

Onto my first workout: I feel great! Cardio on the treadmill was challenging but good.  My whole body hurts from rearranging my entire house over the weekend.  I am one of those people who couldn’t write a college paper if there were any dishes in the sink and I can’t begin to think about a new weight loss program when there is a month of clean laundry on the couch waiting to be put away.  I busted my butt getting my surroundings ready for me to be more efficient in my house work and home management so I could send more time working out and spending fun time with my son.  The cardio helped my muscles actually recover from the weekend.   My homework is to food log (ARGH!) and drink lots of water.

Day 3: I have kept my food log and I am totally pi$$#*!  I drink too much and don’t eat enough during the day.  I am a bit sore and tired but holding up OK.  Many events and lots to do at work have my head spinning a bit but, I can’t over think things.  Today I did walk on my treadmill but, all I could muster was to let the dog out and then get on it in my nightgown and slippers for 30 minutes.  Hey, it’s better then not doing it at all!  Yes, squeezing my self into my jogbra and Lycra shorts was too much for me at 6am.  If I could have had my coffee at the same time it would have been even better!  I also realize that I like to chew.  Chewing makes me very happy.  Maybe it sets off some kind of happy endorphins in my brain.

Day 6: I am in PAIN - but, very proud of myself.  I could barely move today.  I managed to get out and do a bit of yard saleing with my dog.  Then we dropped down to the Burlington Farmers Market and I got a massage (from one of my wonderful staff of course.)  My Golden and I went on a walk and I drank lots of water.  I’m feeling better.  

Day 7: Weigh-in - Down almost 4 pounds! Hooray! Now it's time to sweat some more . . . 

Cynthea Wight Hausman is the owner and operator of Cynthea’s Spa, a petite, urban day spa in the heart of Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace.

Y- FIT - Reality Weight Loss Journey with Cynthea Wight Hausman

Hello.  My name is Cynthea.  I'm a 40-something single mom who owns her own business and is overweight.  I’m joining the Summer Yfit program with Alexandra Jasinowski to take my own advice and make my health a priority.

There isn't just one reason I find myself heavier than I would like to be.  I wish we could look over my eating habits or lack of exercise or stress level and have an "A-ha!" moment and say, "Well, if you just change that one thing then your extra weight will simply fall off," and it would be SO easy.  But, it just isn't that simple.  Many factors have contributed to my being overweight.  And the truth is I don't have much control over many of them.  Probably when I try to control things is when I feel the most out of control.

I am an emotional eater.  I reward my self with food.  Nothing crazy.  No whole pints of Ben and Jerry's for goodness sake.  But I have an out of whack sweet tooth.  I can't keep ANY sweets in the house or I will eat them.  Later at night, after I put my son to bed, I walk into my kitchen and I am so mad that there is no ice cream, cookies or ANYTHING!  I bang around and settle for some yogurt or tea or cereal.  I eat it but, it's not what I really want.  I also punish myself by not eating or not planning well.  I'm great at making my son's lunch and snacks everyday for school but, I don't do it for myself!  Why?  I don't know.  But, I do know that it has to stop.

It's not easy for me to admit that sometimes I get so wrapped up in taking care of others (which I love), my family, my business, or whatever fire that needs putting out, that put myself and my health lower down on the proverbial "list". I'm sure many folks can relate and maybe that's exactly why YMCA asked me to share my experiences.

I promise to be as honest as I can be in this blog.  I have struggled with my weight since childhood.  During my young adulthood I was a US National Luge Team member and was the most fit of my life - but even then, I was asked to step on a scale everyday before breakfast and body fat tests once a week.  My fitness and training was my job and my life.  I enjoyed it and at that time I didn't have any other responsibilities. It was an all-consuming goal - to be the fastest woman in the world on ice.  In that world, you are both all in and completely dedicated or you are out.  It is very black and white. 

Now my life is much fuller, I am struggling to find the middle path.  I am seeking a way to balance my life as it is now and my fitness goals at the same time.  I have a wonderful opportunity to finally succeed with these goals and I am going to give it everything I've got.

Cynthea Wight Hausman is the owner and operator of Cynthea’s Spa, a petite, urban day spa in the heart of Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace.

Reality Weight Loss

Starting Monday, June 21st, a new Yfit program* will begin and this time around we will be following a participant’s, Cynthea’s, weight loss journey. I feel honored to be working with Cynthea because she is such an accomplished female. She owns her own business, developed her own charity, won 2010 Luge Masters Nationals, and is a loving mother and part of so many organizations I can’t keep track. I’m constantly impressed with how much Cynthea is always doing and much good it brings to others and the community, but I have always worried about whether or not Cynthea is taking care of herself the way she should be. I met Cynthea at her salon, which is where we first started talking about weight loss and the behavioral and lifestyle changes that need to be made to make weight loss successful. When you are as busy as Cynthea certain priorities go out the door, like exercising and feeding your body correctly. As Cynthea's trainer, I will teach her to put aside time to care for herself. Through this YFit program, Cynthea will be using this blog to talk about what she is going through and how she is doing with the program. Also, as her trainer, I will be using the blog to discuss how to overcome the obstacles you face when trying to lose weight, nutrition and fitness tips, and I will post a recipe each week.

Keep checking in for updates on Cynthea and weight loss, nutrition, and fitness tips!

*Yfit is an exercise-based weight loss program that is held at the Greater Burlington YMCA. Participants meet with a personal trainer 2-3 times a week for 8 weeks.