Even though most of us consider reaching our weight loss goal as defining our success, there is much value in the journey itself.
At no other point during the weight loss process will you get to enjoy so many positive victories. Think about it. Every day your body is changing in a multitude of ways. You might not have been able to sit on the floor comfortably last week but here you are, today, losing track of time while playing with your grandson. Clothes that were too tight only a few weeks ago now are baggy. Perhaps you're breathing easier due to not having to carry around so much weight. Maybe your collarbones are making an appearance for the first time in your adult life, or you received a compliment from a co-worker about your weight loss. All of these things help to keep you on the path to your goal and affirm that you are closer to it every day. These non-scale victories can give you much-needed motivation to keep going even when the scale is not cooperating.
The journey to thinness can also be a period of great learning. We can get to know ourselves more intimately as we explore the reasons we are overweight. As the layers of weight peel away, we can't help but reveal more of who we truly are inside. The act of shedding weight along with the process of learning why we are overweight prompts a release of mental baggage that has kept us imprisoned and afraid to truly live.
It is the journey itself that teaches us the most. Enjoy it while it lasts.
"Success consists in getting up just one more time than you fall." -Oliver Goldsmith
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Baby Steps
Does this sound familiar? You decide to get serious and lose the weight once and for all. You give up all of your favorite foods, cut calories to starvation levels, resolve to exercise for an hour each day, and stop your TV-time snacking habit. All at the same time. Starting today.
The first day goes well, but by Day Three, you are hungry, and feel deprived and overscheduled. You give up because the program you created for yourself is impossible to maintain for any length of time.
Why not try creating small, achievable goals for yourself? Instead of cutting out all of your favorite foods, try choosing to avoid foods that have sugar in them for a week or two. Keep everything else that you do the same. Then cut out foods that contain refined flours. So far so good, right? A couple of weeks later, try replacing your evening snacks with smarter choices such as crunchy veggies or a handful of nuts. You might eventually want to give up this habit altogether, but if you try to make too many changes at once, it can be overwhelming.
A baby-steps approach works well with exercise too. Don't plan on exercising full-bore for an hour a day right at the start. Instead, aim for small blocks of time that fit in your schedule on a regular basis. You can always increase the amount and frequency of exercise as you lose some weight and feel more inclined to move.
By incorporating small changes gradually, you'll create the momentum needed to reach your goal. And without too much pain!
"If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always gotten." -Anonymous
The first day goes well, but by Day Three, you are hungry, and feel deprived and overscheduled. You give up because the program you created for yourself is impossible to maintain for any length of time.
Why not try creating small, achievable goals for yourself? Instead of cutting out all of your favorite foods, try choosing to avoid foods that have sugar in them for a week or two. Keep everything else that you do the same. Then cut out foods that contain refined flours. So far so good, right? A couple of weeks later, try replacing your evening snacks with smarter choices such as crunchy veggies or a handful of nuts. You might eventually want to give up this habit altogether, but if you try to make too many changes at once, it can be overwhelming.
A baby-steps approach works well with exercise too. Don't plan on exercising full-bore for an hour a day right at the start. Instead, aim for small blocks of time that fit in your schedule on a regular basis. You can always increase the amount and frequency of exercise as you lose some weight and feel more inclined to move.
By incorporating small changes gradually, you'll create the momentum needed to reach your goal. And without too much pain!
"If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always gotten." -Anonymous
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Make A List - Check It 9,087 Times
It sounds so basic, but making a list of all of the reasons why you want to lose weight can be an extremely powerful tool. Try to think of even the small, everyday improvements in your life that can be realized through succeeding at your weight loss goals. Your list might include wanting to be able to play on the floor with your children, get off of blood pressure medication, wear a certain size of clothing, ride on a rollercoaster, or fit into an airplane seat more comfortably. Whatever your reasons are, write them down. When you are tempted to eat off-plan, take out your list and read it to remind yourself of what you're working for. Actually picture yourself succeeding at every item on your list. Reviewing your list frequently and visualizing yourself achieving your goals are extremely helpful in maintaining your focus.
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard
"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." - Carl Bard
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