Category Archives: Inspirational

I’ll never forget a valuable lesson learned. I was telling a friend about a goal I had. I was so excited to accomplish it. He asked me to describe the day when I’d meet my goal. How would I feel? What was the first thing I was going to do after I reached it? What was I going to wear that day? I hadn’t thought about those questions or the litany of other questions he asked. I remember him saying “If you don’t think about the goal as if it’s already accomplished and plan for it, it’ll be very hard to reach the goal.”

That stuck with me. Early in my weight loss journey, I figured out how I wanted to look when I reached my goal. The emotions I’d feel. The first thing I’d do. I began thinking about it so much that I even started planning the outfit I’d wear that day. That image became so engraved in my mind that when I look in the mirror now I see the finished product. When I’m working out, I don’t see where I am now. I see where I’ll be on that day I reach my goal.

It’s gotten to a point that I have pictures that describe my life once my goal is accomplished. I have pictures on my phone, in my car, etc… I look at them daily (sometimes hourly). I constantly want to see the results.

Having the end result in my mind and experiencing the success along the way solidifies my resolve to meet my goals.

So if you have a goal, think about how you feel when you reach. Envision what you’ll do that day. How that day will unfold? Don’t be afraid to get in the details of it.

Visualizing my success has helped me tremendously…

You have to see it before you see it!

Anyone who knows me knows I love football. One thing I watch is the quarterback’s reaction after throwing an interception. You’ll hear commentators say “He has to shake it off. In order to play quarterback, you must have a short memory.”

Why is that so important? Well, because in the grand scheme of the game, throwing an interception isn’t that bad. However, if the quarterback keeps thinking about the interception, it will adversely affect his play. Most time the next play called after an interception is a pass play. The coach understands the quarterback needs to regain his confidence quickly. The best way to do that? Call another pass play.

Like playing quarterback, you must have a short memory in weight loss. There will be days when you “throw an interception” (Make poor food choices. Skip workouts) I’ve done it plenty of times. At first, I’d feel bad, beat myself up, be dejected, etc.. Making a poor food choice or skipping a workout wasn’t that bad in the grand scheme of things. But I made it worse because of the mindset I had. The mindset led to even more bad choices. Sound familiar? “I ate Krispy Kreme donuts for breakfast. Well, my nutrition is now ruined. Lunch time comes around… Well I already messed up so I’ll have McDonald’s value meal for lunch.” See how the mentality from that one mistake creates a spiral?

I learned to have a short memory. Act like it never happened. On my “next play after throwing an interception” (next decision. Eat healthy or fast food. Sleep in and skip my workout or get up and go to the gym) I had to call a pass play. (Make sure I ate right or went to the gym).

The next time you don’t make a good choice don’t beat yourself up. Have a short memory. Acknowledge the choice was bad and move on. The quicker the better.

Get to the next play as quickly as possible and call a pass play.

Well, it’s the second half of 2012. For some, the weight loss resolutions made just six short months ago are but a distant memory. To others, they are still a priority but you’re not where you’d thought you’d be. And there are some who have quit temporarily stopped working on them. No matter where you find yourself with your weight loss, know you can’t go back and change anything that happened from January to June. You can’t even change what happened twenty minutes ago.

I’ve been in all three of those categories. The good thing is it’s not too late. We have six more months to accomplish what we said we’d do. So no pity parties about your progress. (or lack thereof) Just get up and make the most of the time you have left in 2012. Do something every day from this point to December 31, 2012 11:59 PM to get you closer to your goals. You don’t want to have to utter three of the saddest words in the English langue – “Could’ve, would’ve, should’ve”.

You’ll be surprised at what you can still accomplish with the months remaining One of the many things I’ve learned on this journey is that I am capable of doing more than I ever imagined. You know what? So are you!

As I’m getting older, I find myself reminiscing about random events from my childhood. I remember going to Sam’s Club. One of the highlights (if not the only highlight) was getting samples as we shopped. Usually more times that not, if we sampled something and liked it, that product found its way to our basket.

You’re probably wondering what in the world does this have to do with weight loss. Well, sampling food at Sam’s has nothing to do with it all. However, the principle of sampling itself has something to do with my weight loss success. See, I sampled success early in the process. It wasn’t a lot by some standards – 2 lbs here and there. It was just enough to make me want more. It was just enough success that I put the product in my shopping cart. (Committed more to the process of losing weight).

I repeated the process of “sampling” success so much that it created a desire for more. It created personal momentum that carried me from 3 lbs to 80 lbs. I did nothing extraordinary. I just sampled enough success that I bought more & more of it (became more immersed in the process)

Everyone should sample success. It’s an amazing feeling. Be warned… One of the worst feelings is to experience success then lose it.

I’ve tasted success and I’m not going to lose it….

“Is all this worth it?” I’ve asked multiple variations of that question countless times. Well, today that question was answered. (yet again) It’s not like I didn’t already know the answer to it.

I’m in the gym and this elderly lady (grandmother type) comes up to me and says just as pleasantly as she could “Sweetie, I’m so proud of you. I’ve watched you for the past few months. Keep it up. I told my friend’s daughter about you hoping it will inspire her. Keep going. Don’t stop. Your health is your wealth.”

Now I know everything I’m doing is worth it. But, at that moment, I realized it even more. Sacrificing sleep at times to make it to the gym. Pushing myself to complete exercises even though my muscles were on fire (side note. That pain doesn’t last nearly as long as the pride I feel for finishing the exercise in spite of the pain.)

If you’re wondering if the sacrifices, lifestyle changes, are worth it? If you’re wondering if the weeks of exercise & eating right with seemingly little or nothing to show for it is worth it? If you’re wondering if the effort required to change and the emotions of doubt, frustration, & uncertainty you’ll certainly experience are worth it?
The answer is yes!! It is! I promise it’s worth it and more.

So “Keep going. Don’t stop. Your health is your wealth.”

You’d think that being healthier, a longer life expectancy, a better quality of life, and more clothes choices(cheaper, too! )would be enough to get you going. And keep you going. Those wonderful things should be enough to sustain your motivation and determination on this journey. Surprisingly I’ve found that’s not always the case.

In fact, I’m not motivated as much by those things. I’m more motivated by what I don’t want than what I do want.

Sounds crazy doesn’t it? It almost is. But think about it. I’m more motivated by the thought a heart attack than I am by having a six-pack. I’m more motivated by the idea of sleep apnea than I am of having the body I see on the cover of Men’s Health magazine. I more motivated by hypertension, high cholesterol, knee replacement surgery at 40, arthritis…. you get the point.

Here’s the thing. For me, those were very real possibilities. So on the days where I don’t feel like it or the days when wearing a size 36 pair of pants isn’t making me run to the gym or making me eat right, I quickly reminded myself of the things I don’t want. Suddenly I find myself motivated.

Sometimes a healthy dose of fear can be a good thing.