With the New Year approaching and all of us beginning to think of our fitness goals for 2014, many are targeting weight loss. I have a simple suggestion to get your mind in the right place to finally get smaller: Get rid of your clothes that are too small you've been keeping around as "motivation".
I know this seems counter-productive. Get rid of a motivator? Ummm.......... How's it worked for you, so far? In my experience, clothes that are too small just add to my guilt. And when I feel guilty, I want to eat. And when I over eat I don't lose weight.
If you can't bring yourself to get rid of them all together, pack them in a box and put them somewhere out of sight. Like a top shelf in your closet or the attic. I did this with a few pieces that I really loved and eight years later when I finally lost the weight (yeah, it took that long!) I got them out of storage and you know what? They were embarrassingly out of style. I was shocked at how tacky what I had idolized as "cute" was in present day. I was able to shorten hemlines to make three garments more current, but everything else went into the donation box.
You might want to keep one thing, tucked away where you can't see it, for comparison to your former small size once you get to goal. But everything else? Buh-bye.
Another, closely related tip: Buy clothes that fit NOW. I mean, truly fit. Not that are just a skoesh tight because this time you are finally lose the weight. But clothes that fit you right and make you feel as good about yourself as possible toDAY. Why? Because you'll be more likely to lose weight if you feel good about yourself, and it's hard to feel good about yourself when you also feel like a sausage.
So now you are thinking "If I buy clothes that fit and lose weight, I won't fit in them very long!" I hope you are right! It's not wasted money if it gets you moving in the right direction, is it? Plus, it's exciting to see the clothes you that used to fit get big. Really.
Likewise, get rid of your clothes that are way too big as you lose weight. I've found that people who keep their fat clothes around "just in case" always, and I mean ALWAYS, gain the weight back. It's like they have given themselves mental permission to regain and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Again, maybe keep one really ugly thing in your biggest size that you would NEVER want to wear again to compare your new, smaller frame to. But the cute stuff? Yep- donation box.
Consider it an investment. Why not give yourself every advantage to get into the best shape possible?
Showing posts with label maintenance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label maintenance. Show all posts
Wednesday, December 25, 2013
Friday, December 28, 2012
Respect Your Limitations
I so admire the people who can keep weight off without logging food. How much more convenient life must be without having to write it all down! But I'm not one of them.
Rarely can I let junk food in the house. It's just to hard for me to keep my mitts (and tongue) off of it.
I've had people question and challenge me on both of these issues. In years gone by I have let others bully me into bringing foods that were not in my best interest into my home when I knew I wasn't strong enough to resist them. I've also felt ashamed that I planned to log my food even after I lost my weight, despite knowing it would help me to maintain, because someone told me that wasn't a realistic way to live.
But not anymore: These are two limitations I've had to acknowledge and respect about myself.
I have a friend who does what is necessary to keep her body fat at a healthy level when she pays a trainer/coach to help her. It's something she has to work into her budget to stay successful. She's not weaker than anyone else. Quite the opposite: She is strong enough to recognize and respect her own unique needs and then implement them.
Another person I know has to to to Weight Watchers meetings and weigh-in on a weekly basis in order to not gain her weight back.
Some do best avoiding restaurants; others can't stay home because they eat out of boredom. Some do best if they plan their meals ahead, while others will rebel and overeat if their foods are strictly dictated: They do better with a little (or a lot) more give in their eating plan. Still others do better if they avoid things like white flour or sugar all together, while there are those who find success when they can indulge a little from time to time.
Your picture of success will not look like that of anyone else. This is a good thing and as it should be. You have to be true to your personality and respect your own limitations. Maybe these boundaries will change with time. Maybe they won't. But for lasting success in the weight loss and fitness game, you are going to have to be honest and true with yourself about what works for you.
If someone else doesn't like it? Well....... Let them eat cake........
Or not......
Rarely can I let junk food in the house. It's just to hard for me to keep my mitts (and tongue) off of it.
I've had people question and challenge me on both of these issues. In years gone by I have let others bully me into bringing foods that were not in my best interest into my home when I knew I wasn't strong enough to resist them. I've also felt ashamed that I planned to log my food even after I lost my weight, despite knowing it would help me to maintain, because someone told me that wasn't a realistic way to live.
But not anymore: These are two limitations I've had to acknowledge and respect about myself.
I have a friend who does what is necessary to keep her body fat at a healthy level when she pays a trainer/coach to help her. It's something she has to work into her budget to stay successful. She's not weaker than anyone else. Quite the opposite: She is strong enough to recognize and respect her own unique needs and then implement them.
Another person I know has to to to Weight Watchers meetings and weigh-in on a weekly basis in order to not gain her weight back.
Some do best avoiding restaurants; others can't stay home because they eat out of boredom. Some do best if they plan their meals ahead, while others will rebel and overeat if their foods are strictly dictated: They do better with a little (or a lot) more give in their eating plan. Still others do better if they avoid things like white flour or sugar all together, while there are those who find success when they can indulge a little from time to time.
Your picture of success will not look like that of anyone else. This is a good thing and as it should be. You have to be true to your personality and respect your own limitations. Maybe these boundaries will change with time. Maybe they won't. But for lasting success in the weight loss and fitness game, you are going to have to be honest and true with yourself about what works for you.
If someone else doesn't like it? Well....... Let them eat cake........
Or not......
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Hard Choices
There came a point about 3 years ago in my weight loss and fitness journey that I knew if I was going to progress any farther I would have to spend more time in the gym and cooking healthy foods. And in order to do that, I was going to have to give something up. After conducting a rather painful lifestyle self-examination, I realized what needed to go: Sewing.
I am a very good seamstress, if I do say so myself. I have been sewing for about 30 years now. Since I am a perfectionist, I wasn't happy turning out anything that didn't look positively beautiful. And perfection takes time. A LOT of time! I figured as long as I was putting the effort in, it might as well be right. And it was. Here are photos of just a few of my beloved projects:
But I had to get honest with myself and reevaluate my priorities. After some internal examination I decided the proper place to focus my energies and time was now on getting healthier for not only myself, but for my family. Additionally, I wasn't able to spend the time helping others like I wanted because my butt was stuck in a chair in front of a sewing machine manipulating fabric. So I finished up the last of my important projects and put sewing on the back burner. That was a couple of years ago, and I haven't regretted the decision since, although sometimes I do get a little melancholy about it.
This doesn't mean I don't ever sew, because in a pinch I do. And I am grateful for my sewing skills. For instance, I made a lovely fully lined wool trench coat for my daughter this winter- She is tall and willowy, and at almost 6 feet tall and 125 lbs nothing was fitting her. (This is not an exaggeration- literally NOTHING fit her even close to properly with those very long limbs.) Marching practices for the high school band would have been miserable without a warm and properly-fitting winter coat. I literally don't know what she'd of done if I couldn't sew. Here are a few of pictures of the project:
But other than the rare project, my sewing maching sits neglected in it's cabinet.
Another thing I have just recently given up is baking. This was an even harder one to abandon than sewing. Baking gives instant gratification and makes my family very happy! This in turn makes me happy! But I eat what I bake, and the stuff sitting around, even if I do avoid it, gets me thinking in a direction that is not good for my health. (I'm sorry, but my experience has been that even with healthier ingredients, it's very difficult to make baked goods that are truly good for you and taste good, too.) So, like sewing, unless it's for a rare occasion, baking is pretty much out of my life.
When people say that living healthy is a lifestyle, they aren't kidding! I'm not saying you have to abandon ALL of your time-consuming or bad-for-you habits right now. I see skinny people who sew and healthy people who bake. I just can't be one of them. At least not for the time being.
Habits are formed gradually and new practices towards healthier living are best added little by little, as you feel ready for the the changes. The truth is that if 5 years ago you'd of told me I'd of all but stopped both sewing AND (bigger shock!) baking, I'd of told you that you were talking to the wrong woman. If you knew me back then, you are nodding your head in agreement. :-)
The moral of my story? Don't be afraid to reevaluate and be honest with yourself about what needs to exit your life. I can pretty much guarantee that over time, as you progress into becoming fitter and healthier, your life will look a lot different than it does today. And that's Ok. Giving up things that slow your progress is not giving in- It's being mature and honest enough with yourself to say "This isn't in my best interest anymore". Your family may balk a bit (my 15-year old is still asking for brownies), but eventually they'll come to accept and appreciate that you made the hard choices in not only your best interest, but theirs as well.
I am a very good seamstress, if I do say so myself. I have been sewing for about 30 years now. Since I am a perfectionist, I wasn't happy turning out anything that didn't look positively beautiful. And perfection takes time. A LOT of time! I figured as long as I was putting the effort in, it might as well be right. And it was. Here are photos of just a few of my beloved projects:
But I had to get honest with myself and reevaluate my priorities. After some internal examination I decided the proper place to focus my energies and time was now on getting healthier for not only myself, but for my family. Additionally, I wasn't able to spend the time helping others like I wanted because my butt was stuck in a chair in front of a sewing machine manipulating fabric. So I finished up the last of my important projects and put sewing on the back burner. That was a couple of years ago, and I haven't regretted the decision since, although sometimes I do get a little melancholy about it.
This doesn't mean I don't ever sew, because in a pinch I do. And I am grateful for my sewing skills. For instance, I made a lovely fully lined wool trench coat for my daughter this winter- She is tall and willowy, and at almost 6 feet tall and 125 lbs nothing was fitting her. (This is not an exaggeration- literally NOTHING fit her even close to properly with those very long limbs.) Marching practices for the high school band would have been miserable without a warm and properly-fitting winter coat. I literally don't know what she'd of done if I couldn't sew. Here are a few of pictures of the project:
But other than the rare project, my sewing maching sits neglected in it's cabinet.
Another thing I have just recently given up is baking. This was an even harder one to abandon than sewing. Baking gives instant gratification and makes my family very happy! This in turn makes me happy! But I eat what I bake, and the stuff sitting around, even if I do avoid it, gets me thinking in a direction that is not good for my health. (I'm sorry, but my experience has been that even with healthier ingredients, it's very difficult to make baked goods that are truly good for you and taste good, too.) So, like sewing, unless it's for a rare occasion, baking is pretty much out of my life.
When people say that living healthy is a lifestyle, they aren't kidding! I'm not saying you have to abandon ALL of your time-consuming or bad-for-you habits right now. I see skinny people who sew and healthy people who bake. I just can't be one of them. At least not for the time being.
Habits are formed gradually and new practices towards healthier living are best added little by little, as you feel ready for the the changes. The truth is that if 5 years ago you'd of told me I'd of all but stopped both sewing AND (bigger shock!) baking, I'd of told you that you were talking to the wrong woman. If you knew me back then, you are nodding your head in agreement. :-)
The moral of my story? Don't be afraid to reevaluate and be honest with yourself about what needs to exit your life. I can pretty much guarantee that over time, as you progress into becoming fitter and healthier, your life will look a lot different than it does today. And that's Ok. Giving up things that slow your progress is not giving in- It's being mature and honest enough with yourself to say "This isn't in my best interest anymore". Your family may balk a bit (my 15-year old is still asking for brownies), but eventually they'll come to accept and appreciate that you made the hard choices in not only your best interest, but theirs as well.
Friday, January 27, 2012
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