Getting Started

I want to lose weight this year. I've set an initial goal of reaching 125 pounds.

First: WHY.

Stephen Covey says you can make a dramatic improvement in your life by asking yourself this question: What one new thing could you do on a regular basis to improve your personal life?

My answer (maybe it doesn’t exactly answer his question, but it’s on target for me): LOSE WEIGHT.

There’s an awful lot of negative energy trapped inside the extra weight I’m carrying with me.

I’m not happy with the way I look or the clothes I wear.

Here’s something that really alarmed me: I looked at a Debbie Allen videotape yesterday. She was teaching a line dance that my dance group is learning. She looked AWFUL.

OK, I don’t look that bad. But I could look much better.

Second: HOW.

Two ways: Overcoming negatives and maximizing positives.

To put it differently: I need to begin by listing the plus factors that I have going for me:

my basic eating habits are good ones

• I lost a few pounds last year (hooray!)
• I'm an active person
• I've successfully met weight-loss goals in the past
• I'm always surprised and delighted when I lose a few pounds
• I'm close to my goal
• I'm a self-disciplined person
• I have some good eating habits (measuring coffee creamer and salad dressing, eating one piece of candy or one cookie most of the time)
• I'm conscious of food choices and quantities
• I don't have a binging problem or eating disorder

On to the negative factors:

• I love sweets
• I'm into "I'll do better tomorrow" thinking and behavior
• Upcoming events are going to present challenges
• I sit at this computer a lot

On to specific strategies I can use:

1.  Realize that it's not now-or-never with foods I like. There will be more chocolate-chip cookies in February.

2.  Realize it's OK to be hungry. Often the feeling goes away in a minute or two.

3.  Increase my physical activities

4.  Make an eating plan when a social event comes up

I'm going to assess today (it's about 8:00 pm) and then make some plans for tomorrow:

Overall my eating today worked out well. I'm pleased that I did two walks today and went to the gym for the first time in several months. I'm going to do my at-home workout in a few minutes.

Plan for tomorrow:

• dance practice on my own at the ballet school
• ballet class
• one walk (I probably won't have time for two, but maybe...)
• one cookie
• moderation with pizza and cannoli
• keep positive

I just looked at that "pizza and cannoli" comment. My husband and I go out for pizza every Monday. That's got to be an obstacle to losing weight - and yet last month I really did lose weight despite those weekly outings.
I need to keep my awareness high and not get tricked into my habitual "tomorrow is another day" self-deception.

More tomorrow!