Sunday, May 1, 2011

Simple Logic = Desired Results

So this past week I have sort of lost my mojo.  "What???" you exclaim.  How is this possible?

I'll tell you how.  LIFE!  LACK OF PLANNING!  LACK OF CONFIDENCE!  LACK OF MOJO! {yes, I'm yelling, but in a 'frustrated at myself' way, not at you, ok?  ok}

And it is incredible to me that even 20 months and almost 90 pounds lost into my journey to better health I struggle just like anyone else.  It's not at all that I think I'm above it.  I've pondered this for awhile this week.  And thinking through this really taught me something.

There is no end to this race.  There really isn't a finish line.  I mean, there are major celebrations along the way.  Like the first 20 pounds...then 50 pounds down, then reaching Onederland once again...but even when I hit 100 pounds down {soon, ahem} I still won't have "arrived."

Even when I hit my goal weight of 160 (exactly 37 pounds from here) I still will not have "arrived."

And I am learning to be OK with that.

Because I didn't become the girl in the purple shirt overnight.  {see my before picture below}  And it was continuous unhealthy behavior that got me there.

So the only thing that will KEEP me from ever being that girl again is continuous healthy behavior.

Wow, I kill me with all of this logic. 

But why is it so hard, when really it sounds so simple?  Chew on that calorie-free logic.

I, we, everyone - we must stop over-complicating healthy choices.  At the end of the day it is about making the best choices to achieve your goals.

If you are at a red light and turning left will get you to your destination about 2 miles sooner, why in the world do you turn right?

When shopping for a specific recipe, would you purposely choose the wrong ingredient?

If you need a black sweater for your teal glitter dress, what would possess you to purchase a bright orange and purple polka-dotted one?

My point in this rant is to show you, and remind ME that it is all about making the choices that will lead you to your goals, every day.  It is the every day small choices that make huge changes in your health in the long run.

The choice to exercise.  The choice to eat healthy most of the time.  The choice to NOT get seconds at the church dinner.  The choice to drink water.  The choice to get enough sleep.

Plain and SIMPLE.

Now I'm off to do my food reporting on SparkPeople for the day to see what I have left for dinner.  And I'm going to make the choices that will allow me to finish in range.  Then I'm going to be sure my menu plan and lunch plan is ready for the week.  And then I'm going to document the exercise/calories I plan to burn each day in my phone with annoying reminders.  Mapping it all out.

And I'm going to make the best choices I can this week.

The ones that will lead me TO my goal and not AWAY from it.



Because that girl in the purple shirt, left side of this picture, was not happy with herself.  She became physically nauseated when she saw this picture for the first time.  As you can see I've changed a great deal on the outside...but I've also changed on the inside too.  I never want to be her again.  And I don't plan to.

Who's with me?

~Clara

PS - new goal to be at 100 pounds lost (13 pounds from now) by June 15th.  This is a stretch for me but I'm giving it a try!

7 comments:

MCB said...

Clara--very inspirational. We have so much in common.

myboysmomx2 said...

As always Clara...wonderful blog :-) Thank you for sharing with us. We all go through lack of motivation and struggles. The important part is that you keep pressing on and continue to make healthy choices for a lifetime!

Ingrid said...

Noticed your picture on the "Reshaping It All!" website. WOW! What an incredible story. It is great that you have worked hard to lose weight and be heathly. Keep up the great work! You are an inspiration!

Darlene Schacht said...

Someone sent me your link this morning, and I'd love to feature this blog on "Reshaping it All."

Our blog is
http://www.reshapingitall.com

It's perfectly inline with our theme. If you are interested, please email me at: darlene@darleneschacht.net

Stephanie said...

WOW Clara! Love this post...best one yet! and WOW to the above comment by Mrs. Darlene! I am reading Reshaping it all right now! Love ya girl!

Unknown said...

Oh, Clara! So glad I found ya on Re-shaping it all and this post brought it all home... Like the book says... it is not will power; it is wisdom!! Thanks for you blog, girl!!

Anonymous said...

You look AMAZING!!

AprilN from JBC (back in the day anyway)