I’ve been really debating on the whole “diving right in” idea for this blog. You know, just start throwing recipes and ideas at you at lightning speed and lose you half way through a post on why pie crusts are important. Then while cleaning my house today, I really thought of something. We’ve got to slow this down. I mean, let’s be real for a minute. Do you just wake up one day and think, YES I AM GOING TO CHANGE EVERY ASPECT OF MY LIFE! RIGHT NOW!
Uh… No. Not really. I mean, some people do, but then again I call BS on that. You can wake up and decide that you’re ready for a life change, but you don’t immediately start making it happen the second your feet hit the floor. Anyone who tells you otherwise is lying.
Here’s the realistic aspect of this, yes, you woke up and decided you wanted a change. However, walking into your kitchen and realizing you have nothing proper to eat or get you through your day is a little defeating. Also, not having a planned exercise routine also throws a wrench into the whole DO IT RIGHT NOW.
We are a society of instant gratification. I mean, seriously, who doesn’t use Google 50,000 times a day?
So when something like eating better, balancing your lifestyle, changing that lifestyle and then throwing exercise into that whole mix, we expect results the next day. We expect to immediately feel better, feel lighter and suddenly be able to wear that little black dress.
It isn’t going to happen. I wish I could sit here and sell you something amazing that works like that, just to make you all feel a little better on the inside. But I can’t lie to you. That would be doing you all an even bigger disservice.
I’m here to be real, to be supportive and to create a discussion on how this can work by still living your life. Really! I know it can be done, I’ve seen it.
Quick story: My Aunt Sue is one of my heroes. (She’s actually my aunt in law, but who’s keeping track?) She started her own successful business from the ground, works like a machine, is an incredible mother to three adorable children and has been happily married for over twenty years to awesome Uncle Len. She’s my rock when I feel disheartened, like I can’t do it or disappointed in myself. Aunt Sue has lost more than sixty pounds, and worked her ass off to get there. Literally. Did she starve herself? No. Did she do some crazy diet that’s widely popular on TV? No. She counted her calories, watched her portions and works out like a beast. Still. It’s amazing how she’s kept off the weight, ran a 5K and still doesn’t give up on her work outs. When I see all that she’s accomplished and her own personal determination, it reminds me that it CAN be done. You don’t have to starve yourself, deprive yourself or make your life miserably crazy to become healthy. (I use the word healthy because “thin” isn’t the goal. “Thin” can connote negativity, or unrealistic goals, when in reality, we all just need to be healthy!)
Self control was a huge benefactor in my aunt’s success in weight loss. If she wanted ice cream, she had a (SINGLE) serving size. Was it a lot of work and dedication? Yes. Did it happen over night? No. But the results are long lasting, and the first time I saw her in a little black dress for an event with one of her clients… It was indescribably incredible. The expression on her face was priceless and amazing. It only makes me want to know how it feels, because she did this for no one else but herself.
Take a lesson from Aunt Sue, and make this change all about you. Not about your husbands, boyfriends, girlfriends, kids, friends, family… No. No one else but you. Once you start to put yourself first when it comes to bettering yourself, you’re going to start feeling better. It’s the first result you’ll see, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to like that sensation of control.
So take a moment and just stop. Create a spark people account and begin to educate yourself about why it’s important to know what you’re eating. We’ll do this together, I promise. But I do have to say… we are going to have to get off the couch for this. I know, I hate working out just as much as the next girl, but I’ve got a pretty good feeling we’re all going to like the results if we stick to it.
Somedays you’ll wake up hating that exercise video, or your workout clothes. Hell, you’re going to hate that salad sitting in front of you, too. It’ll be worth it.
Something that my mother in law always says to keep me motivated at the right times is, “Nothing tastes as good as thin feels”.
She’s totally right, and I love it when she reminds me of that quote because it keeps my head on straight… Or at least harbors away that desire for a second piece of pizza.
However, I’m going to make that quote my own for a moment, “Nothing is going to taste as good as being healthy will feel”.
So before I start getting into cooking, how-to’s and all that fun stuff… This change is something that I want ease into. I want you to ease into it, too. Sometimes people have to go all out, balls to the wall just to get it done, but I’ve tried and failed this whole weight loss thing so many times… This new approach is going to be something I think, will be most beneficial.
One day at a time, one work out at a time and one meal at a time. This change is going to be amazing, and totally worth your weight loss in gold.
Make today the day you check out SparkPeople, write some short term and long term goals for yourself.
Plan, plan, plan! Make a grocery list and plan your meals out for the next five days. Set yourself up for success, so when you’ve got all your aces in places, then you begin to change all the while having complete control yourself.
That’s my advice for today, so start there and get your own ball rolling. I know mine is!
Cheers to healthy and taking back control!
Aly
If you’d like to follow me on www.sparkpeople.com, my user name is alynpond. Friend me there, too!
Aly Pond and the Starless Night 