Challenge Yourself

To keep yourself accountable and adhere to your new behavior, challenge yourself to reach a new goal.  Log and track your efforts. It will help to keep you mindful of your behavior changes.  Make it something fun that you don't hate to do.  Accomplish an easier level or task, and feel good about yourself! Then increase the challenge and find another victory!  Let's get this.

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The Power of Positive Peer Pressure

We all can remember or if you are too old to remember, imagine a young child being peer pressured into doing something they didn't want to do.  However in the adult world, peer pressure still exists.

I have never been a drinker.  But at 42, I still have friends that want to be the ones to get me drunk for the first time.

But not all peer pressure needs to focus on a negative behavior.  Yesterday, my work mates and I set out some rules for weight loss to challenge ourselves to focus on our behaviors to increase the likelihood of success.  We will weigh in weekly to monitor our progress. 

A couple of usefull tips when trying to manage a behavior.
- make a public declaration
- be accountable
- have SMART goals
- reassess if needed.

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Behavior Management 101

After a great June and July where I lost over 20 pounds, I have struggled in August putting about 5 pounds back on.  It has been really difficult to maintain my decision making.  I find myself effortlessly talking myself out of a healthier option.

The interesting thing was that I didn't feel stressed, nothing was out of kilter.  I just wanted to "treat" myself for some reason.  Not for a meal or a day, but for about 2 weeks, I have struggled with this particular battle.  As I was driving from Braum's with my fast food booty, I was analyzing why I was so driven to choose that food, when a week before I was soundly in control.

My answer is not important, and I am not sure that I even found it.  But it is critical that if I or you or anyone struggles with control of choices, we need to understand the why.  Food can clearly offer mood enhancement and even release dopamine for some "feel goods".  But why do I need that mood boost.  If I understand why, I am more likely to be prepared next time.

Today I packed my lunch and dinner.  I ate a healthy snack.  Today feels good and that feel good lasts longer than a fast food meal. 240.6

Feeling Really Good!

It has been a really good 3 weeks.  I have lost close to 10 pounds.  I am eating pretty clean and have increased my activity greatly.  I am sleeping well and have decreased my stress as well.

I found the switch.  It has been relatively easy to go back to my healthier lifestyle.  It is such a different place to be in.  Three weeks ago, I was battling at each meal.  Choices were haunting me; I couldn't get any sustainable healthy habits together.

The impetus for change was a workplace weight loss program.  It was literally a quick switch in mindset.  It shouldn't have mattered, but it did.  And, now here I am after 3 weeks of all around healthier living.  It feels really good!

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Renewed Vigor

I haven't been blogging lately, but it is not because I am not on track.  I have actually have a great 2+ weeks of healthy habits.  It has just been a busy season, which makes the short term process an even sweeter success.

I wish that I could describe my feelings of excitement, resolve, and sense of doing.  I really feel good and focused.  I have found the switch.  I have mentioned this before.  While losing weight or increasing strength or improving fitness are all a physical thing, they are all born from a psychological place.

Behavior management is where things begin.  That is where the switch is.  Man it feels good.  I have a radio show called Health Matters.  It is part of a bigger show on 620 AM in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market.  You can hear it on Fridays at 6 pm.  The first Friday of every month the show's full hour is focused on wellness.  Listen in if you get a chance.

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Another Beginning

It has been a tough year.  I have struggled through break-ups and worrying about family members.  I have fallen off and lost site of the wagon.  Bad habits out paced healthy solutions.  My weight is up and my health is challenged by a combination of the stress, eating, lack of movement and poor sleeping.  There is nothing on that list that is surprising or new.  Once again, life has happened and my weight gain has been a casualty.

All of that said, I have conquered those choices, those habits in the past and I will do it again.  I started today with a renewed focus.

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Lots of Work to Do

It has been awhile since I have blogged.  I have had a lot of missteps and backwards steps.  Nearly everything that I have previously typed before, I have done incorrectly.  I have been a poor role model.  I am frustrated, but not beaten.  I am determined.  My temporary failures speak to the difficulty of a progressive straight line life-long improvement.  I have had many dips in my trek, but I face my faults and trials with the fortitude of past success.

I am heavier that I have been in awhile, and it happened very quickly.  It is time to start the process of change.  I want to for appearance.  I need to for my health and for my children and for my message to others.  We can do this.

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