Surviving Fitness

Since I began my journey toward weight-loss and fitness I have been on the lookout for inspirational stories and motivational tips. For example, today’s MSN ran a great feature on Weight Loss Success Stories: The 100 Pound Club . I also have friends who have lost large amounts of weight and have maintained for many years. What is their secret to success?

I believe that it all comes down to PLANNING.

Planning is bringing the future into the present so that you can do something about it now. - Alan Lakein

Mentally, physically and emotionally, we have to spend time PLANNING to LOSE, and then PLANNING to “stay a loser”.

“Always have a plan, and believe in it. Nothing happens by accident.” - Chuck Knox

All of my life I have dieted and played the yo-yo weight-loss-and-weight-gain cycle. Looking back, I was usually losing for a specific event. A prom dance. A trip to Hawaii. The all-important meeting of the “boyfriend’s family”. The wedding and honeymoon….

…and then after the event ended, so did my resolutions. I don’t know why it has taken me over 42 years to realize what I WANT when it comes to my body. Maybe it’s been so long in coming, because it is so simple. What I really want is not a specific size or a specific number on a scale. What I really want is LIFE-LONG health and physical freedom.

“If you don’t design your own life plan, chances are you’ll fall into someone else’s plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much.” – Jim Rohn

Writing The Plan

Maybe it is a maturity thing – to finally find what I want. I don’t know. But this time around, as I seek weight loss once again, I can tell that I am approaching things differently. There’s something completely new going on in my brain. For one thing, I am tremendously excited for the extended journey that I am taking! And that is exactly how I see it. My own personal adventure and quest.

My plan has many different levels and steps. I realize right up front is going to be a long path, and I am perfectly fine with that – because it is all part of the Plan. There is no one ultimate destination for my weight-loss & fitness, because this is a life-long journey.

Measuring Success

Enjoy The Journey

I will be walking the dog each day, and I have a plan for inclement weather. There is a plan for increasing my exercise regime as my fitness improves. I have a plan for what to say when people offer me food that is not on The Plan (“No thank you” or “Not right now, thanks”). I plan to talk to my health coach daily either by phone or by email. I plan to surround myself with supportive family and friends. I plan to start running again, and am working on a plan to enter some small road races. I have an ultimate plan to run a marathon again – but most important I PLAN to keep making PLANS. I realize I have to keep PLANNING and keep modifying and setting goals as the road twists and turns in my future. It is a life-long road. And as long as God grants me to be on it, I am accountable for everything I put into my mouth, and everything I choose to do physically. I can choose things that will either assist or hinder my progress on the path. 

“There Are Four steps to achievement: Plan purposefully. Prepare prayerfully. Proceed positively. Pursue persistently.” – William A. Ward

Filed under: Attitude, exercise, Fitness, food, Health, weight-loss Tagged: | diet, Fitness, food, Goals, Health, life, Planning, success, weight, weight-loss