How is your New Year’s resolution? It’s Day 13 into the new year. Are you tempted to say, “Forget it”? If it is true that only 20% of those who make New Year’s resolutions actually keep it, when does that 80% decide to stop?
I was an overweight kid. When I was in high school I think I started a new diet every January. Day 13 was usually when I dropped my diet because it was my dad’s birthday. Cake always sounded extra good after a couple of weeks of depriving myself!
Fortunately since then I’ve learned a few things about “dieting” and how strictly depriving yourself doesn’t usually work in the long run. One thing is still the same, however: sticking to a resolution or a goal is not always easy. It takes physical and mental determination.
Over the past few days there have been times when I wanted to let my daily discipline slip a little. Certainly it’s not bad to have a few extra calories now and then, but my goal at the beginning of January was to make this month a focused time of building my nutrition foundation. I wanted to reestablish eating habits that unfortunately went downhill when I was pregnant. My goal was to stick to a certain range of calories per day without compromise until Valentine’s Day.
When it’s been tough, there have been a few things that have helped me stay committed to my goal. First, my sister has been my accountability partner and she checks on me once a week. Second, I’ve seen a few recent photos of myself that I don’t like! Third, I’ve been entering my daily caloric intake at a website that gives me a daily report, and I like getting straight A’s.
Lastly, when I’ve been at my weakest motivationally, I remember an area of my life where I have been successful. If I was successful in that mountainous task, can’t I continue this daily endeavor of eating right?
That last part will be our topic for tomorrow. Today you have homework: think of at least one time in your life where you have been successful. Try to make it something that required daily commitment and determination. Keep thinking! You probably have more personal trophies than you’d expect!
And I still have the challange of Dad's birthday! Would it be mistreating him if I didn't make him a cake? Actually, since he has been trying to eat healthy he will probably be glad if I don't! But we will still do something special -- go out to lunch and I plan to try to not "splurge."
ReplyDeleteI'll have to write a blog entry about how to have a special day in a healthy way :)
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