"You must begin to think of yourself as becoming the person you want to be."
~ David Viscott
As we come to the end of the 2nd day of June here in NZ, I've been thinking a lot about the goals that I want to set up for June. I was reading something that Jody had written over at "Are you living your best life?" about coming to the end of her May challenge and it struck me that maybe I needed to take a leaf out of her book.
When I instigated my 7 Week Challenge, I honestly thought I'd succeed. If someone had asked me if I could predict any problems I would have truthfully answered, "No". And yet just a few short weeks into the challenge and I'd already bailed on most of it. I didn't sit there and consciously think to myself "hey, I don't feel like drinking water anymore"...I just let the Coke Zero back into my life. I didn't make a decision to not go to the gym as often or swim anymore, I just didn't make a point of scheduling the time in. I didn't choose to not track my food, I just didn't make the effort.
And where did all my not bothering & not making time get me? It got me to where I was losing and re-gaining the same 2.2 kgs for the entire month of May. I think we can call that a big fat FAIL.
Was the length of the challenge wrong? Perhaps. I think (ok fine, I KNOW) there was more to it than that, but we'll start with the length of the challenge. This is where Jody comes in. She does monthly challenges. I think that is far more realistic. She sets goals for every month and works hard to achieve them. So I will be doing monthly things from now on.
Was the length of the challenge wrong? Perhaps. I think (ok fine, I KNOW) there was more to it than that, but we'll start with the length of the challenge. This is where Jody comes in. She does monthly challenges. I think that is far more realistic. She sets goals for every month and works hard to achieve them. So I will be doing monthly things from now on.
We'll get back to that....
Something else I read today hit me in the face like cold, wet fish. It was unpleasant but man did it ever make me sit up and take notice! I was over visiting *FiTCETERA* and she had a quote of her very own up there that said:
Something else I read today hit me in the face like cold, wet fish. It was unpleasant but man did it ever make me sit up and take notice! I was over visiting *FiTCETERA* and she had a quote of her very own up there that said:
"If you're not willing to make sacrifices in order to reach your goals, then you better resign yourself to the fact that you'll stay right where you are. Suck it up! Be brave and be a little uncomfortable."
She went on to say this:
"I need to take my own advice........I haven't been willing to make sacrifices (not long term). I haven't been willing to do the hard work (not long term). I haven't been willing to be uncomfortable (not long term). And I have stayed right where I am (long term)."
People, I thought my head was going to fall off from nodding along in agreement so vigorously! At the beginning of this journey I was so good. I tracked everything that went into my mouth, I exercised regularly and I planned ahead. As the weeks and months have gone on, I've been more and more willing to let things slide...always with the confidence that I can fix it next week. The problem is, there is ALWAYS going to be a next week so I will always have that leeway. I can't take away that flexibility but I CAN do away with the mind set. There is NO MORE leeway.
I had to go back and look at WHY I even started this journey. Among so many other reasons, the main ones were:
I had to go back and look at WHY I even started this journey. Among so many other reasons, the main ones were:
To get healthy
To not be the fat mom.
To not be the fat wife.
To be able to watch my kids grow up.
To be comfortable in FRONT of the camera.
To be healthy.
To be healthy.
To be healthy.
Somewhere along the line, I have lost sight of that. I have lost my drive and determination to reach goal and that is not ok. Even if I no longer want to do this for my husband and children, I MUST do this for ME! If sacrifice, discomfort, hard work, grit and persistence is what I need to put out there, then so be it!
So here we go! One month at a time.
(In the middle of this post I had to run off to weigh in and found out I lost 1.1 kgs / 2.42 lbs...YAY!)
So here we go! One month at a time.
(In the middle of this post I had to run off to weigh in and found out I lost 1.1 kgs / 2.42 lbs...YAY!)
JUNE CHALLENGE
(June 2nd - June 30th)
(June 2nd - June 30th)
~ Scott Reed"This one step - choosing a goal and sticking to it - changes everything"
GOALS
Weight Loss: My starting weight for this month's challenge is 137.5 kgs (302.5 lbs).
My goal for June is to lose a minimum of 4 kgs (8.8 lbs). I am going to put one of those little ticker thingies in the sidebar to track this. Fingers crossed!
My goal for June is to lose a minimum of 4 kgs (8.8 lbs). I am going to put one of those little ticker thingies in the sidebar to track this. Fingers crossed!
Exercise: Lately I've been using the weather as an excuse to not exercise. I've been using it a lot. Like, a lot. No more. I have a Wii Fit, I'm bringing my mom's Nordic Track Skier across the road to my house, I have a gym/pool membership and I have lots of streets I go walk on. No more excuses!!
My goal for June is to work out in some capacity for at least 45 minutes a day for a minimum of 4 days a week.
My goal for June is to work out in some capacity for at least 45 minutes a day for a minimum of 4 days a week.
Water: I'm not sure why, but weaning myself off the Coke Zero didn't work any more than going cold turkey did. I swear there's something in it that I'm truly addicted to. I am, however, drinking far less of it which is a step in the right direction.
My goal for June is to drink that 8 glasses of water the powers that be always talk about. Every day.
My goal for June is to drink that 8 glasses of water the powers that be always talk about. Every day.
Tracking & Food: I've really let the tracking slip lately. When I don't track, I don't lose. Tracking in my head doesn't work, it MUST be done on paper. I bought a new tracker at Weight Watchers tonight.
My goal for June is to track everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, that goes into my mouth. I will also plan ahead for as many meals and snacks as I can. I will also eat more fruit for snacks, eat less sugary items and eat more veggies at dinner time..even if it means having a salad every night to get that into me.
My goal for June is to track everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, that goes into my mouth. I will also plan ahead for as many meals and snacks as I can. I will also eat more fruit for snacks, eat less sugary items and eat more veggies at dinner time..even if it means having a salad every night to get that into me.
So. What are your goals for this month?
I love your whys... many of them are also my own, especially the one about being the fat mom. That was honestly one of my #1 fears. Great goals!!! My goal for June is to lose 4.2 lbs and make it to 100 lbs total loss.
ReplyDeleteSounds like you have a solid plan.
ReplyDeleteRemember just take one day at a time when you get through that day then focus on the next. Be kind to yourself - if you find that you have slipped a bit then acknowledge it and get back on track straight away - not the next day or the next week.
You are doing great - 1.1 for the first June WI is fantastic - off to a great start.
Thanks for your comments on my blog as well - I really really appreciated them.
Also I am same with Coke zero – I now limited myself to two cans a week – I now view them as a treat and really enjoy them.
Coke Zero is so evil but ooooooooooooh so good!
ReplyDeleteIt's like actual coke of the cocaine variety ... from what I've been told ...
I loved this post, by the way. It's always so encouraging to see another blogger come up with a new plan and a new set of goals. I decided to do goals for June, too, and posted them at http://muffinfixation.blogspot.com/2010/06/big-plans-for-june.html
So far so good!!!
May was a total FAIL for me, so I'm determined to make June better. My goals for this month are to eat more fruits and veggies, and to exercise at least 30 minutes, 5 days a week. So much of what you said about not scheduling it in and not making the effort rings true with me, too. If I'm not willing to be a little uncomfortable in order to reach my goals, then I have to accept that I'm not going to make any progress. No progress = not acceptable. Onward and downward (scale-wise!) for both us, my friend!
ReplyDeleteOY!! Were you EVER talking to me today!! Thanks for the kick, I surely needed it.
ReplyDeleteMy goals are to just keep on keepin' on with the healthy lifestyle. Most days are easy when I get rolling but there are days I struggle. Just trying to stay mindful most of all. Great post.
ReplyDeleteYou said something interesting- there's always next week. I know a little boy who woke up with a headache and they operated on a brain tumor that night. My neighbor may not wake up this morning because he's dying of cancer. Do it TODAY. And I want you to give up the Coke angst. You can still have it, so don't worry. Just not 3 litres of it!!!! So let that go. Your goals for this month are too many. Pick one. The one that will make you feel the best when you achieve it. It's a process. You feel awesome that you made it so you do the next one. We love you and know you can do it. Tex.
ReplyDeleteI have been putting off doing this...making goals for myself so I have lost the same 2 pounds in it seems like forever!!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the Coke thing...it's tough!
ReplyDeleteMy goals are to get back on track and to stop making excuses that each day has a "special occasion" in it so that I'm justified to have too much to eat. I mean, really, I'm starting to get ridiculous about it. Also, to push myself a little harder at the gym--go a few minutes longer on the machines and try to increase the weights I'm doing.
Keep up the good work! In spite of you feeling frustrated, you ARE losing, so you must be doing something right! :)