When
we
start the TSFL program, we are filled to the 'brim'
with...willpower! We're so
psyched, we're motivated, "we're gonna DO this thingee!!!"
We have so much willpower we consider it a 'test of strength' as we stare down that plate of brownies in the break room, without even breaking a SWEAT. Wow, we are STRONG! With a capital 'S'!
Lookit her GO!....
....but....the weeks go by, and the scale maybe doesn't move as quickly, and life does its thing and stuff happens...and your willpower fades.
So what do you do? You want to get to goal, you have a ways to go yet, and you need to 'stay motivated'.
Get COMMITTED. That's what you do!
Turn that willpower into COMMITMENT by sitting down and really thinking about the DEEPLY (maybe private) PERSONAL reasons you have for losing weight.
Things like 'eating healthier' and 'taking care of my body' are great...but they aren't deep enough. Or important enough. They SOUND important, sure...but believe me, when push comes to shove, you need MORE than that.
You need a deeply personal COMMITMENT to the plan.
We have so much willpower we consider it a 'test of strength' as we stare down that plate of brownies in the break room, without even breaking a SWEAT. Wow, we are STRONG! With a capital 'S'!
Lookit her GO!....
....but....the weeks go by, and the scale maybe doesn't move as quickly, and life does its thing and stuff happens...and your willpower fades.
So what do you do? You want to get to goal, you have a ways to go yet, and you need to 'stay motivated'.
Get COMMITTED. That's what you do!
Turn that willpower into COMMITMENT by sitting down and really thinking about the DEEPLY (maybe private) PERSONAL reasons you have for losing weight.
Things like 'eating healthier' and 'taking care of my body' are great...but they aren't deep enough. Or important enough. They SOUND important, sure...but believe me, when push comes to shove, you need MORE than that.
You need a deeply personal COMMITMENT to the plan.
You need to dredge up every bad memory you had about being overweight. You need to determine that you WILL get this done, because you are NOT going to have ONE MORE TIME when you waddle down the hallway with your thighs rubbing together painfully. Or you HIDE from the camera because you hate seeing pictures of yourself (putting a picture of yourself when you were at your heaviest 'front and center' in your mind helps, too. NO, I don't recommend putting it on your refrigerator....although if that helps you, go for it...but personally, I consider that negativity in its worst form. You don't want to really dwell on that person 'before', do you?)
Conversely, putting pictures of gorgeous MOVIE STARS on your frig isn't going to help, either. Because psssst.....NOBODY really looks like that. The photos are air-brushed to perfection. The stars have moles, they have pimples, they have cellulite, you just never SEE it! LOL...
PERFECTION DOES NOT EXIST.
No. I'm talking about getting really personal here. Make a list.
My list included things like:
- I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired all the time! Dragging around all this extra weight is PAINFUL for my fibromyalgia and it makes me feel 20 years OLDER. I want to be able to work out at the gym and have more energy!
- I want to ROCK a BATHING SUIT this year! (If you're young, what the heck, go the whole route and plan on rocking a bikini! Why not?)
- I want to NEVER EVER EVER DIET AGAIN (this was a big one for me ...LOL...since I'd been dieting, on and off, since age 16! I was sick of diets. SICK. I had gotten to the point where cottage cheese made me NAUSEOUS because I had eaten so much of it I can't stand the sight of it anymore! LOL)
- I want to LEAVE THE LIGHTS ON when I make love with my DH!
(See? I told you they were personal).....
- I want to be able to sit in ANY chair without assessing its strength ahead of time.
- I want to SEE MY FEET again. And touch my toes!
- I want to DO A SIT UP! (This was a biggie for me....and when I finally did one, I CRIED. Right there in the middle of the gym. It was embarrassing...but wonderful at the same time LOL)
- I want to be able to do more gardening without getting exhausted (I'm big on flower gardening).
- I want to walk down the street and NOT have people look at me and think 'There goes that fat lady again'. UGH!
- I want to look in the mirror and like what I see! I HATE my double-chin! I KNOW I have a pretty face under there, somewhere!
(I had gotten RID of most of the mirrors in my house except the
medicine cabinet, hubby wouldn't let me get rid of that, so every morning I had to 'face' my face! UGH).....
Etc.
You get the idea. Only YOU can make this list.
Think about what really, really BUGS you about being overweight.
And what your biggest 'dream' would be in terms of getting to goal.
What is it you've always wanted to do? Proudly strut a bikini on the beach this summer? Walk into a clothing store and NOT have to head for the 'plus' section? Stand proudly with your family in a group picture without hiding in the back or putting the nearest little kid in your lap (LOL...)....?
Find the reasons that are deeply personal to you and make these YOUR MOTIVATIONS.
Then, POST them somewhere....somewhere only YOU know about it. Look at them often. Think about them whenever you are presented with a challenge.
And get COMMITTED to your goal.
COMMITMENT can power you through when willpower cannot.
COMMITMENT can make you do things like clean out your kitchen cabinets once and for all of all the junk food, REFUSE to ever bring it into the house again, etc.
COMMITMENT makes you run bleach over those chocolate chip cookies some 'neighbor' was 'nice enough' (ugh) to drop off. Or throw them down the garbage disposal. Or bury them under USED kitty litter.
COMMITMENT makes you buy a dress 2 sizes too small because you KNOW you're going to fit into it someday and it's a bargain and you ADORE it.
COMMITMENT makes you organize your MF meals and plan your L&Gs and drink your water and do everything else you're supposed to be doing to work the program.
COMMITMENT will see you through just about anything. Life happens....but if you're committed, you can shrug your shoulders and carry on ANYWAY. No access to your MF meals? (If you're committed this shouldn't happen because you've always got them ...wherever! In your car, in your purse, you name it) OK, you can last till you get home. Going out to dinner? You know exactly what to order and you don't even LOOK at the goodies you can't have on the menu. You take it from the waiter and set it aside, and say proudly "I'll have the chicken, no oil please, and the broccoli without the cheese sauce. Oh, and a green salad...dressing on the side. And may we have some extra water here, please?"
COMMITMENT makes you say 'No thank you' to the food pushers and not think anything of it.
COMMITMENT powers you through your workouts and makes you log your food and drink all your water.
GET COMMITTED. It makes a difference! Because no matter how 'gung ho' you are when you start, trust me....you WILL hit a 'wall' someday. And willpower doesn't cut it then. Willpower fades...COMMITMENT stays with you.
Keep on keepin' on!
