It’s not that I am dangerously unhealthy, but getting healthy has been one of my New Year’s resolutions for as long as I can remember. It’s always made with good intent, but never kept. If I am being honest, I lacked the commitment to follow through.
This year, I truly want to get healthy. But before I do, I need to define what being healthy looks like for ME. Otherwise, how can I put together a plan or measure success? I can’t. Old Tanya would have allowed this loop-hole. She would have happily skipped through it at a later date. New Tanya—courageous Tanya—is zapping that loop-hole shut forever.
Being Healthy Is Not Size Zero
It may be for you, but size 0 is just setting myself up for failure. The sacrifices I would need to make for it to possible (and honestly, I’m not sure if it is even possible) are not worth it to me. Do I need to lose weight? You bet. Do I need to be a size 0 to be healthy, happy and feel good about myself? HELL NO!
Many people online are brutally honest about what’s going on in their lives, and I have so much admiration for their openness. I am a very private person, so it takes real courage for me to publicly state my intent to lose weight and drop 3 pants sizes this year. Optimally, I believe 4 pants sizes is my ideal, which may be a bit of a stretch for this year. I’ve lost plenty of weight in the past, and I’ve always regained it. I followed those fad diets where you lose weight quickly but don’t necessarily learn good life-long habits to sustain weight loss. I want to keep this weight off, so I’m going slow. I may not lose 20 pounds in a month, but when I lose those 20 pounds, they will be gone for good. And that’s what really matters.
My Get Fit or Healthy Plan for 2014
I’ve spent hours lamenting over my weight. Berating myself for it. Looking back, that was a lot of wasted time. Action and forward movement are what will help me get fit. There are three areas I will focus on this year.
1. Watching What I Eat
I eat too much. Plain and simple. I love food, which, in itself, is NOT the issue. The real problem is that I am an emotional eater. I eat when I am mad, sad, glad, bored, lonely, frustrated, ashamed, feeling guilty … basically whatever emotion I may be experiencing—good or bad—is a reason to feast.
2. Moving Every Day
I hate exercise. Hate. It. Some people love it. They feel out of sorts when they don’t get their daily exercise. Those people are nuts. A sore big toe (generally my imagination) prevents me from working out. Poor big toe. I don’t know what I do to you. You need to heal because I’m going to start shaking my booty every day. Get ready; you have been forewarned.
3. Eliminating Self-Sabotage
Professionally, I am a get-it-done and done-incredibly-well kind of gal. I also am notorious for self-sabotage when it comes to my personal life. I need to lose weight, so I stuff my face with french fries instead. I want to look good in a swimsuit, so I sit on the couch and watch TV, full of bony people whose thighs don’t touch (them b*tches), which makes me feel bad and eat more. I need to ask myself tough questions and more importantly—answer them.
Join Me on My Adventure to Financial Health
There is nothing shocking or revolutionary about my plan. The truth is we often look for easy solutions and promises of great results without making any changes because deep down we don’t want to change or are afraid to change. I know what I’ve resisted in the past and need to be able to address that resistance or any progress I make will be temporary. So I’m sticking with the tried and true but on my terms.
The Old Tanya would have had similar plans but never shared them. On December 31, 2014, she would have let out a small sigh of regret that another year had passed and nothing had changed. The New Tanya can’t wait until December 31, 2014 when she gives a fist pump and shouts “I am Tanya and hear me ROAR!”
I hope you’ll ROAR with me!
P.S. This is just a high-level plan; the tip of the ice-berg. I’ll be detailing my plans over the next few weeks and providing regular updates throughout the year.
Post images courtesy of www.FreeDigitalPhotos.net. Lion photo courtesy of Tambako via flickr.