For the last several years, I have made a sincere effort to get fit. I have lost 30 pounds in the process, but still have those last five pounds that I just can’t seem to lose. To mix up my routine, I set a fitness goal to train for and complete a 5k run. Do you see me losing those last few pounds and completing a 5k over the summer? My birthday is 1-19-1980.
If I knew the secret to losing those last five pounds, I’d be a bazillionaire! That said, the answer to your question is part perception, part horoscope. The perception part is simple—there will always be five pounds left to lose. It doesn’t matter if you’re a member of weight watchers or a triathlon athlete. One would think that now that we have the technical ability to count every calorie and to measure every iota of body fat that we would also possess a surefire means of attaining the body of our dreams. But like in a nightmare dream sequence where you find yourself running down a hallway that only seems to stretch out longer and longer before you, it seems as if people have become even more frustrated and dissatisfied with their body shape and weight. This reflects the classic split between our perception and our reality and I’m afraid that it doesn’t go away. I have read horoscopes for top models and athletes who still see themselves as overweight even though their bodies grace the covers of magazines and are held up as the ideal. I think it’s human nature to become even more critical of oneself as you move closer towards accomplishing and fulfilling your goals. Maybe it’s based on perfectionism or maybe it’s based on control and the fear of backsliding. In any case I believe it’s healthier to adopt a give-and-take approach to something like a target weight because your weight changes every day– if not every hour.
The horoscope part of your answer is simple. You’re an earth sign and earth signs—like water signs—have a hard time losing weight. Earth amasses while water absorbs. Doing things to increase your metabolic rate (like running) is always a good idea. The only thing that I would caution you about is not to overdo. As a Capricorn with Ruling Planet Saturn in Virgo you’re extremely disciplined and once you’re hooked into a regular exercise routine you won’t change it. However you will also expect to maintain—if not surpass—what you accomplished the day before. Please remember that each day is different and—like your weight—your results will fluctuate. If you can keep that in mind then you will cut down on sports injuries, prevent burnout, and turn exercise into something that you actually enjoy doing. Meanwhile mixing up your routine is always a good idea (especially given your Saturn in Virgo) and training for and competing in a 5k this summer is truly inspired. You may even see a drop in poundage when Saturn enters Libra, an air sign, on July 21, 2010. But by then you’ll probably have your eyes set on a new target weight. What can I say? It’s human nature.