"Excuses are nails used to build the house of failure"-Don Wilder and Bill Rechin
Something really hit home today and I really feel the need to share it. It seems like we as a society we are continuously looking for motivation in order accomplish a task or attempt someting new. Today I realized that getting motivated is turning more and more into an excuse not to do something. If we aren't motivated enough to do something we come up with anything to distract us form "getting motivated" in order to accomplish a task.
Let's say you just arrived home from a long day of stressful work and there is a gooey plate of chocolate chip cookies sitting on the counter. You are in a weakened state from the stress of the day and the time of day and those cookies are begging to be eaten. A stratedgy that has worked well for my clients is the following.1. Acknowledge that you really WANT the cookies. Acknowledge that you do not NEED the cookies to fuel your body.2. Tell yourself that you are going to have 1 cookie, but not right now, later.
Several things to address. First off, all quiet on the western front? Yes, I live in the western suburbs of Chicago and we are in a time of battle because life is short and love abounds. Secondly, Day 5 number two? Yes, since the original 10-day challenge start, I have done a restart in order to accompany a few clients in our 3D December challenge. Basically, four 7-day challenges. For challenge number one, I decided to write down everything I eat and drink and at what time. Many lessons have been learned already.
My 4 year old daughter loves to point out that "the sun is setting in the western sky," just like in the book Goodnight Cowgirl. A few of my blog times have been interrupted as I have had an opportunity to teach, "no Zoe, the sun is rising, in the eastern sky." Day 5 went well and ended the challenge. But fear not. This is only because, as is common for most people, SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS. When we experience (feel, believe, witness) success, it motivates us to want more. Yes, I had embarked on a 10-day challenge, I have now turned it in to a 28 plus 5 day challenge.
How we frame our thoughts is of great importance. For example, I just noticed that this touch screen iPad has virtual bumps on the F and J keys even though we can't feel them. The keys are also displayed in 3D. Apple claims these features were added to convince the buyer that typing on the iPad is very similar to an actual keyboard. Apple is very smart and I say it helps. Last night I was very tired and actually laid down in bed realizing I hadn't done my 10 minutes yet.
By the smallest of margins Day 1 was a success. Ramped up for Day 2, it was odd to me that again I had to be really focused to fulfill the 70oz water requirement. On Day 2, I ran for 10 minutes between my last two clients. On Day 3, I went back to the jump rope. All consumption since the start has been according to plan. I eat my meals and then it's over. For the remainder of the challenge, I hope to make healthier/lower cal food choices, try to do more than the 10-minute bare minimum, and continue to push the H2O. Thanks all for now. If t
Ok, I know weight loss is one of our first thoughts when wanting to become healthier, and it’s often times an overwhelming daily pressure, but with 2013 being a month away, I wanted to take a moment and share a different perspective that may help you to set better goals for yourself.
I am sure everyone has heard of this rule- 80% of your fat loss is nutrition, 20% is exercise. I have even read that 80% is nutrition, 10% is exercise and 10% is genetics. Either way the nutrition, the fuel you put into your body, tremendously impacts what you look and feel like.
