I am going to finish the "steps for success" that I've been working on since...September!
16. Be a self-starter.
Hmm...how to relate this to weight loss? Well one way to look at it is to consider where the motivation needs to stem from. People may tell you that you need to drop some pounds but the source is more motivating when YOU decide to make a life change. Some people don't even listen to doctors when weight loss is suggested because adverse health affects haven't started. Often something needs to trigger you personally so you take a step in the right direction. It may be a pair of jeans that no longer fit as nicely. Perhaps your blood pressure has gone up. Maybe you can't fit your butt into amusement park rides as well anymore. I always have to include that last one because I want my butt to fit in roller coasters again!!!
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
This makes me immediately think about my diet habits. There have been all kinds of diet fads over the years. Don't eat any carbs. Don't eat white flour or sugar. Only eat meat and protein. Allocate points to all your food. Only eat pre-packaged food that is overpriced. There are all kind of options for getting your eating back on track. Not everything will work, we are very aware of that. All of those diet fads made me realize and accept the fact that you shouldn't restrict yourself from foods. Anything can be eaten as long as it's eaten with moderation.
Even exercise experimentation can play into this. Maybe you try an exercise class and decide it's not for you. Maybe you try another and find out that it rocks. There is a fantastic exercise program in Ames but it mainly utilizes kickboxing. It makes me worry because my hamstrings are injury prone. I obviously haven't made the decision to try it yet. I made a decisive decision to buy a treadmill because I knew that surface was best for preventing shin splints.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
Good one!! Human beings love to blame others. I often use Gavin as a scapegoat. I often like to blame my job/workload. Heck some people just blame their genetics and tell themselves they can't do much about their weight. But you need to consider all your actions (or lack of action) because everything contributes to the wonderful caloric imbalance in our lives.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
I've already started to look back on my life and wonder what things would be like if I were thinner and more active. I regret that my summers aren't more fun because Gavin deserves to all kinds of fun stuff when school is out. I'm sure I'll do the same in my 30s or 40s if I don't make a significant change to my life. Plus the older I get, the more difficult it will be lose the weight.
I'm also chicken in regards to trying exercise classes through Ames Park and Recreation. I'd also like a consultation on weight lifting but I don't want to look like an idiot since I'm a Kinesiology major. I'm still considering Weight Watchers too (Yea, I know what you're thinking). But I hate returning to that place due to past failure. I don't they'd recognize me or anything. Out of previously attempted avenues, I did like Weight Watchers the most.
20. Take good care of those you love.
So if I'm not making good food and activity choices, what kind of example am I setting for Gavin? I need to make healthy meals not only for myself, but for him. He's approaching that dangerous age of adolescence and activity levels can decrease for kids at that age. I'd rather have home cooked food become a habit and a treat rather than eating out.
Instead of sitting at the computer or watching tv, we can go for a walk. In the winter, we can grab the sled and go sledding. There is a skating rink in Ames...why not take the lad ice skating? (My tailbone is cringing at that)
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.
So LeAnn, what do you think Mom truly thinks about our lifestyles? I wouldn't say she isn't proud of us since we are ever so accomplished but I bet she worries or has concern about our health. I want to make the changes for myself first of all but it would be nice to show my mom (and other family and friends) that I can make goals, stick to them, and meet those goals successfully.
Well those are all the steps to success provided by Jackson Brown, Jr. Most seem to be quite valid for our endeavors.
2 comments:
I like all of the points that Mr. Brown has (I went to school with a Jackson Brown and I couldn't help but think of him as I read this list...it was weird) but my favorite is the last: don't do anything that wouldn't make your mom proud. I love my mom and to be honest, her opinion matters to me more than anybody elses' in the world. I know that she's very proud of me but I also know that she worries about my health...she's never said it but she has to. I think that I really want to do this for her almost as much as I want to do it for myself. I'm glad you made it through all 21 Jenny...it's great that they can all be related to what we're trying to accomplish!
Whew! Finally, all twenty-one written out. I think most of them can be interpreted differently by each person, but the last one means pretty much the same thing to everyone. I would have to say that Mom is probably slightly concerned because she's our mother, but also because she's a nurse. She knows and has seen us active so I think she knows that we are trying.
I like the "self-starter" one because we are all different . It'll take different reasons for us to make a committed-decision to lose weight. It has be decided and happen individually. That goes for almost anything, not just weight loss.
I laughed a little when I read "Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong" because this is something I emphasize with my students. I would prefer for them to participate or be decisive rather than worry about being wrong. Hopefully the home-cooked meals I usually make every night are healthy for not only me, but also for Jason, whom I love.
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