Tuesday, May 1, 2012

I'll Start Monday!


I read something yesterday that caught my eye - "I'll start Monday!" How many times have we heard that? Or how about, I'll start next week or In January I'll start doing that."  Why do we do that? I know I was guilty of it for years but the reality of it is,   we need to start today! Whatever it is we are wanting to do or change needs to start now. The thing about losing weight and formulating a regular exercise routine is that it's not a diet, it's  lifestyle. Diet says the word, temporary. Lifestyle, says the word, forever. Think about it this way,  In order to be healthy on a long term basis this is not just a temporary fix. It's got to be something you are willing to commit too forever. Have you been one of those people who's worked really hard for a period of time to take some weight off, or develop a new exercise routine, only to either slack off, take a break for a time and in the end you've ended up gaining it all back and them some? You're back to square one and often times with more to lose than the first time around? I know for me, there was a time when I took off 40 pounds following a specific eating plan, and felt like when I had reached a certain weight, I had done what I had set out to do, and it wasn't going to get any better than this so I went back to my old way in hoped the weight would stay off. Wrong! I learned real quickly by not making that one decision into  a lifestyle and something I would work at everyday, the weight came back and the exercise stopped. It was daunting and something that really bothered me. Almost as if I was a failure. Then that effects your self esteem and so many other factors in a persons life. Maybe that's why things are different for me this time around. Maybe I needed to go through that experience so I'd learn it doesn't work that way.
I knew when I started on this journey this time around I was determined to make it work. To make it a part of who I am. To make it a part of my lifestyle. In my mind there was no other option. It was not  just going to be a phase, it was going to become a new part of who I was. I had tobelieve that! I had to look myslelf in my bathroom mirror and tell myself those words- sometimes on a daily basis until it became a reality. Now, often times when people are expressing to me how much of an inspiration I am to them and that  they're going to get serious about their weight, and or exercise program, I have no qualms in telling them; "Don't bother unless you're serious! It's not worth it!"  Yes, we are human. We like food. But until we can wrap out heads around the fact that food is to our friend and to be used  as fuel not our enemy, I truly don't think as a people, we'll be able to change for good.
Something to think about:
If you wait until tomorrow to eat right, you'll never eat right, because tomorrow never comes. By the time it comes, it's today. Until you're ready to lose weight today, to eat healthy right now, in this meal, you never will. There's nothing that will be there tomorrow to make you do it that isn't here today. We need to keep in mind that having the desire is our starting point, but in order to make eating healthy a lifestyle, we need to realize there will be no finish line!



Pin It!

11 comments:

  1. This is so true!!! I am in this phase right now. I always say "I'll start Monday." Then when Monday comes and I mess up, I give up for the week and once again say "I'll start Monday." Thanks for the great post. Every post seems to be what I need to hear that day. I don't know if I am just waiting for something to click or what??

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is such a great post. It is so true. I love when you said, "There is nothing that will be there tomorrow to make you do it that isn't there today." That's TRUTH!!!!

    I have been living a new lifestyle, but somedays I say forget it. I need to make the lifestyle an every meal lifestyle and not just a "day when it's easy to do" lifestyle.

    Thanks for your words!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great post Paige. I know I will have to continue eating the way I do now, for the rest of my life. I said to someone today when they asked me how I stay on track, that I view my obesity as being a serious medical condition. If someone is allergic to peanuts, they don't eat them because the peanuts could potentially kill them. I can't eat the fat, carbs and sugar the way I used to because it will potentially kill me. That is what keeps me on the straight and narrow. I can't afford to fall off and get back on the wagon everytime I get a craving. Dying is not an option, my son means too much to me! Sorry for the bad grammar:)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I've done that in the past but now I write every morning in my tracker -

    Today is Day 1. And I act like its the first day of a new diet.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Some weeks I think I had about 2-3 "Mondays" in the same week!!!!! Always going to start another day. I think Monday should be changed to Start Again Day lol.

    ReplyDelete
  6. "There's nothing that will be there tomorrow to make you do it that isn't here today."

    So true!!! I wish I could get this point across to a dear friend of mine who keeps saying you'll address her weight issues later. Later may never come. Today is the only day we have! When I finally realized this, I got serious about making change...not excuses!

    Blessings to you Paige...you're such an inspiration!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I couldn't agree more with this post. I don't know how many times I said, "tomorrow" or "New Year's Resolution." None of those things ever worked. I just had to start and commit. I get mad when people call my choices a "diet". It's kind of how I came up with my blog title! Everyone has a diet, it's what you eat. Your choices are what make a healthy or unhealthy diet. You have great posts. Keep it up!

    Sarah
    notaneffingdiet.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. My surgeon's office always tells me this is not a race. I have to remind myself of that. I used to always start tomorrow...and tomorrow never ever came! Thanks for the post! You always write about topics that hit close to home and about things we all struggle with. Thank you for opening up to us on your journey.

    ReplyDelete
  9. I totally remember using that excuse! I'm glad I got past it and started on healthier living! Thanks for sharing your inspirational story! I am half way to my goal and it's encouraging to read how you are continuing on your healthy journey.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Were your fingers buzzing...LOL..I was just writing about this. Let's have our last hurrah but you can't think like that you need to realize you can eat what you want but watch your portions. Paige I know I've said it 100 times and I will probably say it a million more. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU.
    Your blog motivates, educates, inspires, re-iterates, the list goes on. You are helping so many people that think they can't do it!!! I know I can because you did!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I LOVE this post! I had my Oprah "ah-ha! moment" when an old friend I hadn't seen in 4 years said, "You've definitely gained weight" and then a co-worker the following Monday said, "You are always starting and stopping diets" that it finally clicked in me that I'm not fooling anyone but myself! I guess I thought I could go on a diet and make people think I was healthy and they wouldn't notice that my weight has sky-rocketed over the past few years. Thanks for another wake-up call via this post! I definitely hit home for me!

    ReplyDelete