A second post on a title that has inspired me - "What do you have to lose?"
In the last post it was about taking inventory of your life and identifying what things need to go - a sort of "closet cleaning" for yourself. (p.s. Susie - thank you sooo much for your comment - you are an inspiration. I'm thrilled we have become blogging friends!!!!! Hang in there - you'll get where you're going!!!)
In this post - "What do you have to lose?" I'd like to focus on the expression that people offer one another when they are encouraging you to take a particular course of action - - - as in, "should I ski down the black diamond mountain?" Your friend says, "Sure, what do you have to lose?" This is usually where I get all serious and say - ummm, my life! my limbs! my brain! and my dignity!!!!! Okay, so that was an example inspired by the Olympics and not likely to ever happen to me in real life, but hopefully you get what I'm trying to say.
So, in the last post we looked at what things we needed to lose - now, I ask - "what do you have to lose" in actually losing them? In theory, it seems simple enough - lose what's not working - jump in with both feet - relish in the freedom of not having them slowing you down. But the reality is that it isn't as easy as turning on or off a light switch - if it were, we would all be doing things perfectly.
I leave with you this question - What do you have to lose by losing what you have to lose?
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Chapter 2 page 31 paragraph 1 - what do you have to lose?
I like the title - what do you have to lose? So, I've decided to make several of my upcoming posts focused on that exact title - what do YOU have to lose?
Let's dive right in:
What do you have to lose? In all honesty, what is it that you want to lose? to change? to improve? to fix? It doesn't just have to be my answer which is "75 pounds". For some people - they have to lose their addiction to sugar, their inability to organize, their anger, their frustration, their laziness, their debt, their stress, their inactivity, their poor decision making, etc?????
Everyone has something they have to lose - what about you?
Next post - what do you have to lose (paragraph 2)
Let's dive right in:
What do you have to lose? In all honesty, what is it that you want to lose? to change? to improve? to fix? It doesn't just have to be my answer which is "75 pounds". For some people - they have to lose their addiction to sugar, their inability to organize, their anger, their frustration, their laziness, their debt, their stress, their inactivity, their poor decision making, etc?????
Everyone has something they have to lose - what about you?
Next post - what do you have to lose (paragraph 2)
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Chapter 2 page 30 What's NOT working?
Today's question -
What's NOT working for you with your current situation?
My last post looked sarcastically at "what IS working" for you about your current situation. For this post - let's give a serious introspective about what IS NOT working in your current situation. It's this list of things that aren't working which often is the motivation to change (though, each item on the list may not singularly be significant enough to push us off the mountain into change). These things that aren't working are often the things that we desire will be different or be better once we have made the desired change.
I'll be the example to start:
I'm terribly overweight -
(this section is a review from last week's post . . . What IS working?)
1. I eat what I want, when I want, and how much I want.
2. I'm not restrictive when eating out or celebrating girls night out.
3. I don't measure or count - it's rather the lazy way of eating.
4. Little to no planning required.
5. I'm low maintenance (able to eat most anything, no special restrictions or actions required) in the eating department.
6. I don't feel as fat as I actually am (it's shocking to see my reflection in the large dance studio mirrors during zumba class - yikes!!!)
7. It's easy and no discipline is required.
NOW - What ISN'T working?
1. I don't feel as healthy as I could (aches, pains, asthma, etc).
2. I'm not the role model I need and want to be for my wellness clients, co-workers, and family.
3. I'm tired of being lazy and not accomplishing the goals I set.
4. Buying "big girl" clothes isn't fun - and they really aren't stylish either.
5. I love my husband so much and want a very long, healthy, life with him - things have to improve with my fitness and diet in order for that to happen.
6. My husband and I want to participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, etc that right now I just don't feel confident to engage in.
7. I'm tired of being fat!
So, now it's your turn - pick a current situation in your life and ask yourself, what isn't working about the current situation?
What's NOT working for you with your current situation?
My last post looked sarcastically at "what IS working" for you about your current situation. For this post - let's give a serious introspective about what IS NOT working in your current situation. It's this list of things that aren't working which often is the motivation to change (though, each item on the list may not singularly be significant enough to push us off the mountain into change). These things that aren't working are often the things that we desire will be different or be better once we have made the desired change.
I'll be the example to start:
I'm terribly overweight -
(this section is a review from last week's post . . . What IS working?)
1. I eat what I want, when I want, and how much I want.
2. I'm not restrictive when eating out or celebrating girls night out.
3. I don't measure or count - it's rather the lazy way of eating.
4. Little to no planning required.
5. I'm low maintenance (able to eat most anything, no special restrictions or actions required) in the eating department.
6. I don't feel as fat as I actually am (it's shocking to see my reflection in the large dance studio mirrors during zumba class - yikes!!!)
7. It's easy and no discipline is required.
NOW - What ISN'T working?
1. I don't feel as healthy as I could (aches, pains, asthma, etc).
2. I'm not the role model I need and want to be for my wellness clients, co-workers, and family.
3. I'm tired of being lazy and not accomplishing the goals I set.
4. Buying "big girl" clothes isn't fun - and they really aren't stylish either.
5. I love my husband so much and want a very long, healthy, life with him - things have to improve with my fitness and diet in order for that to happen.
6. My husband and I want to participate in outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, etc that right now I just don't feel confident to engage in.
7. I'm tired of being fat!
So, now it's your turn - pick a current situation in your life and ask yourself, what isn't working about the current situation?
Monday, February 15, 2010
Chapter 2 page 29 - what's working
Today's question -
What's working for you with your current situation?
Let's say you want to change the way you eat, or you want to lose weight, or you want to exercise more (or even just some), or you want to get out of debt, or you want to be happier, or you want to have a better marriage. Whatever it is you want - look at your current situation and ask - what's working for you having things the way they are? Something good must be going on and you must have something positive to say about it because if it were all truly messed up you would stop the current situation and make immediate corrections. So I ask - what's working for you?
Let's take my situation of being overweight as an example. What's working for me? Well:
1. I eat what I want, when I want, and how much I want.
2. I'm not restrictive when eating out or celebrating girls night out.
3. I don't measure or count - it's rather the lazy way of eating.
4. Little to no planning required.
5. I'm low maintenance (able to eat most anything, no special restrictions or actions required) in the eating department.
6. I don't feel as fat as I actually am (it's shocking to see my reflection in the large dance studio mirrors during zumba class - yikes!!!)
7. It's easy and no discipline is required.
Your turn - name a situation (that you want to change) and tell me what's working for you.
Stay tuned - the next post we will explore what's not working!
What's working for you with your current situation?
Let's say you want to change the way you eat, or you want to lose weight, or you want to exercise more (or even just some), or you want to get out of debt, or you want to be happier, or you want to have a better marriage. Whatever it is you want - look at your current situation and ask - what's working for you having things the way they are? Something good must be going on and you must have something positive to say about it because if it were all truly messed up you would stop the current situation and make immediate corrections. So I ask - what's working for you?
Let's take my situation of being overweight as an example. What's working for me? Well:
1. I eat what I want, when I want, and how much I want.
2. I'm not restrictive when eating out or celebrating girls night out.
3. I don't measure or count - it's rather the lazy way of eating.
4. Little to no planning required.
5. I'm low maintenance (able to eat most anything, no special restrictions or actions required) in the eating department.
6. I don't feel as fat as I actually am (it's shocking to see my reflection in the large dance studio mirrors during zumba class - yikes!!!)
7. It's easy and no discipline is required.
Your turn - name a situation (that you want to change) and tell me what's working for you.
Stay tuned - the next post we will explore what's not working!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Chapter 2 page 28 - pathetic performance
So here is a question -
Is it just me????? Or have you ever noticed that when you eat poorly, you are unable to work out at the level you normally can (and vice versa - though today I'm focusing on the poor choices)?
I ate a pretty crappy lunch today and I just didn't have enough in the tank to put forth a good effort at Zumba tonight (at one point I considered leaving the class early - those of you who know me, know that is NOT me . . . normally). The entire time that I was sucking air during the class, I was screaming in my head "WHY DO I CHOOSE TO EAT POORLY - I KNOW THE RESULT AND I HATE THE RESULT!!!!" There have been a couple of times in the past 6 months or so where I have really noticed the direct relationship between what I eat for lunch and my level of performance during my workouts in the afternoon/evening. It's really quite shocking and should be enough to deter me from making poor decisions in the future - but NOPE, it's like I have amnesia again and again. Ugggg!!!!!!
Now, having said all of this and having confessed all of my flaws and weight struggles to the multitude of readers of this blog - it's worth noting that I do have a masters degree in health education and a bachelors degree in health ed and physical education. I totally know what should be done, how it should be done, and why it should be done . . . AND YET - I continually DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! Dear God, please fix me.
Hopefully you're not getting tired of reading this blog, but I for SURE am tired of failing - of making the wrong decisions! I pledge to continue to try and make better decisions more often than I make poor ones.
Promise you won't give up on me, and I promise not to give up on myself . . . or you!
Is it just me????? Or have you ever noticed that when you eat poorly, you are unable to work out at the level you normally can (and vice versa - though today I'm focusing on the poor choices)?
I ate a pretty crappy lunch today and I just didn't have enough in the tank to put forth a good effort at Zumba tonight (at one point I considered leaving the class early - those of you who know me, know that is NOT me . . . normally). The entire time that I was sucking air during the class, I was screaming in my head "WHY DO I CHOOSE TO EAT POORLY - I KNOW THE RESULT AND I HATE THE RESULT!!!!" There have been a couple of times in the past 6 months or so where I have really noticed the direct relationship between what I eat for lunch and my level of performance during my workouts in the afternoon/evening. It's really quite shocking and should be enough to deter me from making poor decisions in the future - but NOPE, it's like I have amnesia again and again. Ugggg!!!!!!
Now, having said all of this and having confessed all of my flaws and weight struggles to the multitude of readers of this blog - it's worth noting that I do have a masters degree in health education and a bachelors degree in health ed and physical education. I totally know what should be done, how it should be done, and why it should be done . . . AND YET - I continually DON'T DO IT!!!!!!!!!!! Dear God, please fix me.
Hopefully you're not getting tired of reading this blog, but I for SURE am tired of failing - of making the wrong decisions! I pledge to continue to try and make better decisions more often than I make poor ones.
Promise you won't give up on me, and I promise not to give up on myself . . . or you!
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Chapter 2 page 27 - 3 month goals
Happy Sunny Sunday to everyone! Hope you are enjoying this SUPER(bowl) weekend.
A few weeks ago I blogged about the importance of creating a wellness vision for yourself which serves as a road map for your wellness journey. That is really step #1 in creating a meaningful change in your reality. The second step is to take that very long term goal and break it into a series of 3 month (90 days) goals. These 3 month goals are smaller steps (towns along the way) that when accomplished will lead to the final destination (wellness vision). Research shows that a 3 month goal is far enough away to make real change and close enough to prevent the overwhelming feeling of having a target that is unreachable.
So, you have spent time planning your trip (creating your wellness vision) - you know where you want to end up and you have a map to keep you from going too far off the route. Now, let's plan that trip together. What direction do you want to go first? What cities do you want to visit (3 month goals)? What roads do you want to take to get to those cities (weekly goals)? Pack your bags - jump in the car - let's go!!!!!
Enjoy the journey!!!!!!
p.s. Go Colts!!!!!!!!
A few weeks ago I blogged about the importance of creating a wellness vision for yourself which serves as a road map for your wellness journey. That is really step #1 in creating a meaningful change in your reality. The second step is to take that very long term goal and break it into a series of 3 month (90 days) goals. These 3 month goals are smaller steps (towns along the way) that when accomplished will lead to the final destination (wellness vision). Research shows that a 3 month goal is far enough away to make real change and close enough to prevent the overwhelming feeling of having a target that is unreachable.
So, you have spent time planning your trip (creating your wellness vision) - you know where you want to end up and you have a map to keep you from going too far off the route. Now, let's plan that trip together. What direction do you want to go first? What cities do you want to visit (3 month goals)? What roads do you want to take to get to those cities (weekly goals)? Pack your bags - jump in the car - let's go!!!!!
Enjoy the journey!!!!!!
p.s. Go Colts!!!!!!!!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Chapter 2 page 26
Here's the summary -
Goal #1: Exercise 4 hours this week
2 hours only - it was over 3 days which is better than the previous 2 days/week.
So, 50% for the week on this one. Not that I should be allowed excuses, but Zumba used to be an hour when I set this goal so that would have been 2 hours, then I was planning to go to the gym for a total of 1 hour and then I was going to walk today . . . but then . . . there was little thing called a blizzard which really made walking outdoors pretty impossible - uggg!
Goal #2: Write at least one daily victory each day of the week.
Today's victory was that I didn't eat dinner tonight and only had cereal a little while ago when I finally got hungry.
For the week - 80%
Goal #3: Write down everything I eat/drink 3 days this week.
In all honesty, I only actually wrote down what I ate on 2 days.
66% success for the week.
Looking at my 3 goals for the entire week - 50%, 80%, and 66% - not really that good. What exactly was I focusing on this week? Not sure - better buckle down for next week. Sorry to disappoint. Hope your week was a greater success!!!!
Go Colts!!!!!!!!!!!
Goal #1: Exercise 4 hours this week
2 hours only - it was over 3 days which is better than the previous 2 days/week.
So, 50% for the week on this one. Not that I should be allowed excuses, but Zumba used to be an hour when I set this goal so that would have been 2 hours, then I was planning to go to the gym for a total of 1 hour and then I was going to walk today . . . but then . . . there was little thing called a blizzard which really made walking outdoors pretty impossible - uggg!
Goal #2: Write at least one daily victory each day of the week.
Today's victory was that I didn't eat dinner tonight and only had cereal a little while ago when I finally got hungry.
For the week - 80%
Goal #3: Write down everything I eat/drink 3 days this week.
In all honesty, I only actually wrote down what I ate on 2 days.
66% success for the week.
Looking at my 3 goals for the entire week - 50%, 80%, and 66% - not really that good. What exactly was I focusing on this week? Not sure - better buckle down for next week. Sorry to disappoint. Hope your week was a greater success!!!!
Go Colts!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Chapter 2 page 25
So today - was pretty good. How about for you?
Here is my progress toward my goals for today -
Goal #1: Exercise 4 hours this week
Well, I went to a 45 minute class tonight which was lovely (though when I set this goal, the class had been scheduled for an hour which I was going to do twice this week so . . . maybe not going to get to 4 hours)
Goal #2: Write at least one daily victory each day of the week.
I ate 1/2 of a delicious orange for dessert today - finally the cake is gone that my husband bought last week and that tasted ohhhh sooo good with my cereal milk (YUM!) so since it was gone, I could return to making good choices.
Goal #3: Write down everything I eat/drink 3 days this week.
I wrote down everything I ate yesterday and today. Here's how today looked:
1 1/2 cups multigrain cheerios with skim milk
1 can diet mt. dew
1 small piece of chocolate-cherry heart candy (25 calories)
1 turkey sandwich from Arby's (minus the mayo, cheese, and bacon)
1 small curly fry order (not really a great choice - I admit - sorry everyone)
16 almonds
1 bottle of water with my almonds
1 large diet coke
1 bottle of water just because I was thirsty in my office
1 bottle of water during/after the aerobics class
6 oz. Delmonico steak (fat trimmed completely off)
1 cup steamed broccoli/cauliflower mix
1/2 medium baked potato (plain)
1/2 super gigantic orange
1 bottle of water with dinner
How are you doing with your week's goals? Anything getting in your way? Let's work out a plan to overcome that together.
I probably won't be available to post tomorrow, but I hope you all have a fantastic day!!!
Here is my progress toward my goals for today -
Goal #1: Exercise 4 hours this week
Well, I went to a 45 minute class tonight which was lovely (though when I set this goal, the class had been scheduled for an hour which I was going to do twice this week so . . . maybe not going to get to 4 hours)
Goal #2: Write at least one daily victory each day of the week.
I ate 1/2 of a delicious orange for dessert today - finally the cake is gone that my husband bought last week and that tasted ohhhh sooo good with my cereal milk (YUM!) so since it was gone, I could return to making good choices.
Goal #3: Write down everything I eat/drink 3 days this week.
I wrote down everything I ate yesterday and today. Here's how today looked:
1 1/2 cups multigrain cheerios with skim milk
1 can diet mt. dew
1 small piece of chocolate-cherry heart candy (25 calories)
1 turkey sandwich from Arby's (minus the mayo, cheese, and bacon)
1 small curly fry order (not really a great choice - I admit - sorry everyone)
16 almonds
1 bottle of water with my almonds
1 large diet coke
1 bottle of water just because I was thirsty in my office
1 bottle of water during/after the aerobics class
6 oz. Delmonico steak (fat trimmed completely off)
1 cup steamed broccoli/cauliflower mix
1/2 medium baked potato (plain)
1/2 super gigantic orange
1 bottle of water with dinner
How are you doing with your week's goals? Anything getting in your way? Let's work out a plan to overcome that together.
I probably won't be available to post tomorrow, but I hope you all have a fantastic day!!!
Chapter 2 page 24
Is anyone else watching the beautiful snow falling outside? Stunning!!!!! Hope you have a chance to take time to enjoy the uniqueness of each flake.
Update on this week's goals. I wanted to do it last night, but I was very tired - been fighting a cold - last night, the cold was winning . . . . but after a good night's sleep - I'm winning (for now).
Goal #1: Exercise 4 hours this week.
Yesterday I got 30 minutes in at the gym. I wasn't going to go, but at the last minute I went in time to work out with my sweaty bff and there were many of my favorite gym friends ("K", "D", "B", "L" - though she was almost done by the time I started, "C", and "A" who came when I was almost done). I have a 45 minute class to attend tonight with some of my WWI teammates which will be super fun. I will be 45 minutes behind in my goal so I will have to get that in some way today on top of the class - lunch time walk in the snow? sounds fun, but probably not :(
Goal #2: Write at least one daily victory each day of the week.
Monday's daily victory - I actually wrote down everything I ate for the day. As you have read on my blog before - this isn't something I'm very good at. I would say with the exception of a small piece of cake, writing down everything I ate really helped me from going buck wild.
Goal #3: Write down everything I eat/drink 3 days this week.
Mission accomplished. I attached my trusty dusty post-it note to my name badge. I've tried to add my first picture on the blog (apologies if it didn't come out right). The pix was taken on 1/25 when writing down everything I ate was a goal during that week too.
Update on this week's goals. I wanted to do it last night, but I was very tired - been fighting a cold - last night, the cold was winning . . . . but after a good night's sleep - I'm winning (for now).
Goal #1: Exercise 4 hours this week.
Yesterday I got 30 minutes in at the gym. I wasn't going to go, but at the last minute I went in time to work out with my sweaty bff and there were many of my favorite gym friends ("K", "D", "B", "L" - though she was almost done by the time I started, "C", and "A" who came when I was almost done). I have a 45 minute class to attend tonight with some of my WWI teammates which will be super fun. I will be 45 minutes behind in my goal so I will have to get that in some way today on top of the class - lunch time walk in the snow? sounds fun, but probably not :(
Goal #2: Write at least one daily victory each day of the week.
Monday's daily victory - I actually wrote down everything I ate for the day. As you have read on my blog before - this isn't something I'm very good at. I would say with the exception of a small piece of cake, writing down everything I ate really helped me from going buck wild.
Goal #3: Write down everything I eat/drink 3 days this week.
Mission accomplished. I attached my trusty dusty post-it note to my name badge. I've tried to add my first picture on the blog (apologies if it didn't come out right). The pix was taken on 1/25 when writing down everything I ate was a goal during that week too.
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