Last week I shared I wasn’t #winning my get healthy goal or my polite way of saying the belly budge was #winning, not me. I decided to treat each day as its own goal. Seems easy enough, right? How could I possible fail? Ummmm … it’s a lot harder than it looks!
Cats are creatures of habit, but I never realized how much of a creature of habit I am too. How many things I do unconsciously that trip up my good intentions. I must become vigilant and pay attention to my actions and my thoughts, especially you, dear thoughts. You’re always causing trouble! Otherwise, I will continue not #winning and that is totally unacceptable to me. Here is my plan.
1. Create Daily Rituals
I consider myself to be an optimistic person or a glass half full kind of girl. But I am also a worrier. Sometimes I get stuck in worry mode, which flows into overly anxious mode and ends in woe is me land. I don’t want to view the world through dark, cloudy glasses.
What helps me is journaling and practicing daily gratitude, and I need to turn it into a daily practice. Writing down my thoughts prevents them getting sucked into that never-ending loop inside my brain. Somedays all I see is what could go wrong or has gone wrong. Gratitude reminds how good my life truly is. Starting and ending my day in gratitude helps set a positive tone.
2. Plan My Day
I have a general idea of what I need to accomplish on a day-to-day basis, but it’s typically work-related, which is only part of my day. I meal plan for the week but some days I’m not in the mood for the meal scheduled or I don’t have the time to make it. To know this from the get-go, gives me time to throw something in the crockpot or thaw a freezer meal.
Exercise has always been a problem area for me. I don’t like it. And I use my dislike of it to find any excuse to avoid it. If only there was a way for me to earn money making up excuses not to work out. I’d be a millionaire!
Most morning go something like this:
Good Tanya: You should get out of bed and go for walk.
Lazy Tanya: I don’t wanna!
Good Tanya: You’re supposed to be getting healthy.
Lazy Tanya: So?
Good Tanya: You can’t get healthy if you don’t exercise.
Lazy Tanya: Bite me!
Good Tanya: Are you five years old?
Lazy Tanya: Shut-up!
Basically every morning I convince myself that I will exercise tomorrow. And tomorrow I promise to exercise the next day. You know the drill.
I am very good at making excuses as to why I cannot workout. This is my biggest opportunity and an area that I am the most resistant to doing as well. I’m a bit embarrassed by this, but it’s the truth. So any suggestions on how to get motivated or what you do to keep yourself motivated are very welcome.
Right now I lean towards finding an exercise DVD that I love and getting a new swimsuit so I can use my apartment’s pool. I do enjoy swimming and it’s great exercise. While I also enjoy walking on the beach, I have to drive there, which makes it easier for me to find a reason not to do it.
3. Be Positive
I am outwardly a positive, can-do person, and I thought that is who I was, inside and out. To my surprise, my thoughts tend to be pretty negative. A few years ago, I attended a retreat where they asked us to go on a 7-day Mental Diet. Essentially you had to watch your thoughts and catch yourself every time you thought something negative about yourself. I made it a whole 30 minutes before I started mentally calling myself stupid because I left my hair clip at home. I had no idea that I did that to myself.
It’s an incredibly hard exercise and you’ll be surprised by your mental dialogue when you learn to tune in. I truly believe your thoughts create your reality, so I need to pay better attention to my thoughts and switch it up when I start belittling myself.
If you’re interested in learning more about 7 Day Mental Diet, let me know in the comment section and I’ll send you the details on it. It’s incredibly hard but really enlightening.
4. Celebrate Success
My friend, Corina, mentioned that she had a reward system to treat herself for eating well. And I thought that was a great idea. I do respond positively to rewards, who doesn’t? I haven’t figured out mine yet, but it’s on the to-do list. Acknowledging small but real victories is definitely a good way to stay motivated.
5. Let It Go
Sometimes you just have to let go and give yourself a break.
Yeah. I went there. Sorry to any parents who lose their mind every time they hear that song. My only kid is a 17 lb cat who doesn’t care what I listen to as long as he gets feed three times a day. 🙂
Sometimes you just need to let go. Let go of fear, pain, sorrow, regret, disappointment, hurt feelings or whatever is holding you back. It’s easier said than done, but I’m committed to letting go. Fly away worries, I don’t want you.
Ta Dah! Now I Just Have to Implement It
The plan is the easy is the easy part. Implementing and staying true to it is what will actually make a difference. So today, I officially start the plan and recommit to getting healthy.
Tanya
I wish I had an answer as to how to commit to exercise. My only thought is that it’s easy and convenient when thou start (which of course is why the beach is not working out for you). I’m going to have a health challenge in Nov so maybe that will be one way? Good luck!
Yeah, that’s why looking at swimming or a DVD, so I can eliminate the drive/time excuse. When I lived in Minneapolis, there was a trail near my home, so it was a breeze for me. But living downtown, which I love, is a lot of stop and go, thanks to all those pesky stoplights, which I am told that I should obey! LOL! I will definitely have to check out your health challenge next month. It sounds like exactly what I need!
I hear ya! Exercising is soooooo hard. And I am a true procrastinator, so I never end up doing it. What I am trying to say, is that I understand and I am wishing you the best of luck in getting healthy, Tanya!! Good luck and YOU CAN DO IT!!! 🙂
I am such a procrastinator when it comes to exercising too. Seriously, I can come up with the lamest excuses and believe them! 🙂 I appreciate your support and I CAN DO THIS. I just need to show up and do the work!
I have a neighborhood friend that I walk with, but if she doesn’t hound me to set a time/day to walk, I just don’t do it. But then I try and find extra cleaning to do so I’m at least being active, and I park far away in parking lots when I go to the store, etc. At least it’s something, but keeping an exercise schedule is hard!!
I got in the habit of parking far away from the stores because my parents always do it, so monkey see, monkey do. And every step definitely helps! I should create a daily cleaning schedule so I’m doing a task a day, rather than all at once because you do burn some calories mopping floors and vacuuming. MaxE is super playful, so I try to make a point to chase him around the apartment a few times a day too. It’s good exercise for both of us! I’ve tried walking with others before, but it’s never worked out. My friends have always been significantly taller than me, so their workout walk is a run for me and my workout walk doesn’t get their heart rate up. I like the accountability aspect of a workout buddy but I also like being able to clear my mind those few times I do get my butt in gear and go for a walk! I am too fussy!!!
Hi Tanya,
I myself am trying to get myself back into the shape I was … (alas its not easy)
However I think part of the key is not trying to fight it, but instead to have a system that you actually enjoy. And I know this may some trite or dumb or obvious, but my point is don’t try to “stop hating it”, or have to motivate yourself.. find something you enjoy.
Two suggestions: Make it an activity you have always enjoyed (sounds like you may be trying to do that with swimming?). For me it is basketball. I was a relatively good high school player (1st all league.. but nothing like 1st team all state good lol), but one reason I didn’t play a lot of late is A) I suck compared to what I used to and it just seemed lame because those games “meant something”.. and now I am a 26 year old just sucking up the court. I played for first time in years this weekend and realized those were just my own mental hangups… and I should get over them
2. Do the activity with people you enjoy. Have a partner, but most importantly a partner you like spending time with. Start with your friends / family / coworkers (the ones you actually like!). So instead of “ugh I have to go work out”, its like “yes I get to spend more time with matt today” (I live in ohio so alas not likely an option for you.. but you get the drift!)
Matt
Thanks for all your helpful suggestions, Matt. I am definitely try to do exercises that I enjoy, so it’s actually fun, rather than punishment. 🙂 I’m hoping once I get in a rhythm that it becomes a habit and truly something I enjoy. I’m definitely not there yet, but every journey must start before it can end. Good luck on getting healthy too! We can do it!
You got this girlfriend! I know once you get into it you’ll be on a roll! Yes, I look forward to my bowl of chocolate chip ice cream of cupcake at the end of the week. I don’t feel guilty eating it. 🙂
Wishing you much success hun! I’m here if you need some motivation :).
Have a great week!
Yup, it’s just getting in the habit, which I will admit that I have been very resistant to in the past. But I don’t want to continue harping/whining/wallowing about my weight, ya know? I’m an adult. It’s time to act like one! Thanks for your support, Corina! I really appreciate it!
I love this post of yours! You seem so full of life, spunk and fun!! So awesome! I laughed at the part with FROZEN, because my toddler loves that movie and song (as every kid seems to) and I can’t stand that song since I hear it so much, but you’re right, the words fit. We have to let go of the negative, focus on the positive and also, surround ourselves with all things and people who are positive!! Move away from anything and everyone who causes you to feel bitter and/or brings you down. 🙂 Love your post! Thanks!
Awwww … thanks, Cindy! I appreciate your kind words. I like to think of myself as having spunk and sass! I hear parents complain about Let It Go all the time and I laugh because I LOVE the song. 🙂 Granted, it was on repeat 24/7, I’d probably hate it too. It’s so true that we have to surround ourselves with positive, supportive people. I’ve had to “let go” of friends who were negative and toxic and it wasn’t always easy to do.