Where Do I Begin?
Great! So you’re ready to take that next step towards becoming a healthier individual.
Where do you begin?
First, I want you to focus on the overall picture and create a realistic, obtainable goal.
If you create a goal that states, “I want to lose 30 pounds in a month.” I admire your enthusiasm, but I would have to say that this goal is not realistic, nor will you find a sustainable way to do that. Basically, you are setting yourself up for disappointment and failure.
On the other hand, if you visualize and write down your goal as, “I want to lose a sustainable amount of weight in order to be more physically healthy,” this takes your focus off of the number on a scale, and directs it to how you want to “feel” overall. The scale is a good reference, but focusing only on the scale will make you feel trapped and sometimes discouraged when you are actually making progress.
In my experience, I found that taking progress photos is one of the best ways to track where you are and they are CHEAP!
You may not see the number on the scale moving drastically, but when you compare your beginning pic to a pic 5 months down the road, I promise you will see a difference. Be patient.
Sustainable change takes time, so allow yourself time. Also, if you find yourself comparing your progress to the progress of another, please realize that everyone has a unique journey with different starting points, obstacles, and goals.
Focus only on your journey.
Once you have your big overall goal, now it is time to start breaking down that goal to even smaller, manageable actions. These actions can be as simple as walking 10,000 steps a day or changing your Starbucks drink from a Venti Frappuccino to a Grande Iced Americano.
Small changes add up overtime creating a habit. I always tell people that small changes are better than cutting everything out cold-turkey and to make sure that you are cutting out the RIGHT things! I always hear people talk about cutting out all carbs and sugars including fruit to drop the weight. Ask yourself why? There is no logic in cutting out an energy source for your body unless a medical professional or dietician has prescribed you to do so. Just because your friend Becky did and lost 10 pounds in a month, does not mean Becky is now “healthy” and is the weight loss goddess! I assure you she will not stick with it long because it is NOT sustainable.
Lastly, keep a journal of your progress and be very descriptive. How do you feel waking up? Did you stick with your goals that day? What did you struggle with and how can you overcome the struggle? Not only will you keep yourself accountable for your progress, but also you will find a change in your habits and outlook towards your goals.
