Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Day 274 The Password Is: Consistency!

Day 274

The Password Is: Consistency!

If I had to pick one word to explain my success so far it would be: Consistency. I was always inconsistent before with every other attempt at weight loss. I would do great two days, then bad for one. Then good for three days and bad for four. Then I would wonder why I wasn't getting results. There was no way I would be honest enough to just admit my inconsistencies. I might even pretend to be dumbfounded to a friend “I have no idea what's happening, I'm doing everything I'm suppose to be doing.” Then I would come up with a few possible reasons “You know I must be retaining fluid,” or “I've been really constipated, I probably just need to go to the bathroom,” or “I'm just cursed with a horrible metabolism.” When I would lie to myself, lying to others was real easy. What made me so inconsistent in the past? Everything. It didn't take much for me to designate something to be a wonderful excuse. I would even postpone starting because if I looked at the calendar long enough, I could find reasons to wait. “Oh, look at that, Kelli's birthday is coming up, then the Fourth of July, then mom's birthday right after that, there's no way I can start trying to lose weight now.” And I wouldn't dare start a weight loss journey anywhere near Thanksgiving or Christmas. “I don't want to ruin the holidays.” I still don't understand how I would convince myself that me eating responsibly could possibly “ruin” the holidays. “Oh, wow...There he goes again. Every holiday it's the same thing...Do you have to ruin every holiday with your responsible eating habits? You're making the rest of us feel gluttonous!” “Somebody hold him down while I pour gravy down his pie hole, we'll teach him to ruin the holidays with his highfalutin eating habits.” How silly I was to come up with so many reasons to NOT do this. I never spent too much time thinking about reasons TO do this. In fact, if I scoured every month of the year, I would find the optimal time for me to lose weight would actually be between February 2nd and February 8th. Not really enough time to get it done. Being consistent on this journey means making this attempt different than any other I've ever tried. Consistency means steamrolling every excuse or rationalization that comes along. When you really decide that nothing will stop you, then nothing can. It sounds simple and it can be if you make it that way. It can also be very difficult if you make it that way. So basically, it will be what you decide it will be. I decided it would be simple. It's as simple as answering this question: Is this thought, emotion, circumstance, holiday, birthday, day off from work, or anything else, is it threatening the structural integrity of my journey? If it's a thought, emotion, or circumstance I just have to remind myself that over eating when I'm dealing with these triggers only compounds my sorrows. And staying on track and focused on doing the right things exercise and food wise will only contribute in a positive way. Actually helping me get to a better place mentally. If it's a holiday, birthday, day off, or any other type of celebration...I enjoy it responsibly. I'll eat cake, I have several times along this journey, I just don't devour four or five pieces like I might have before. I can't count the number of cookouts and family get togethers we've had over the last 274 days, again, a responsible approach---focusing on the people around me and enjoying the atmosphere and not focusing, or in my case obsessing over the food, has worked every time. I still eat, I still enjoy, I'm still happy...even more so because I know I'm being consistent. “But Sean, things happen, we can't expect to be strong all the time.” Really? I've endured deaths in the family, financial woes, the holidays, birthdays, my 20th wedding anniversary, Halloween, Valentines Day, reconnecting with a father and brother I've never known, and many other things that life can throw my way. None of it stopped me for even a day. Why? How? I'm not special, I don't have super human weight loss powers, but I made a decision to stay on track regardless of the circumstances. I knew that was the only way I would ever get this done for real. I voided all excuses or reasons to not do it this time. Have I deprived myself along the way? No, not in the least. I eat three meals and at least three snacks a day. If it's a special occasion, I plan my calorie budget around the events, and eat what everyone else is eating...maybe not as much as some, but I'll enjoy whatever we're having in a responsible way. Consistency is the key. Consistent effort equals consistent results. When somebody tells me that I've lost the weight too fast so far, I wonder if they think I'm starving myself? I'm certainly not! I eat, I exercise, I steamroll excuses and rationalizations to be inconsistent, and I lose weight. Wow, I've really gotten off on a tangent here!

I do need to figure out how to add certain things to my page. I need to add a FAQ to the sidebar. A couple of readers lately have asked what “plan” I'm on. This is normal...we all do it. When we notice someone has lost a considerable amount of weight, the first question is always...How did you do it? If you've read the archives of this journey, you know how I feel and what I've done. I take pride in proving everyday that the weight loss industry is a giant waste of money...most of it is completely useless. (Anything Richard Simmons is a part of is something good and Weight Watchers is good, oh and so is TOPS---Every thing else in my opinion---Rubbish!) I haven't spent a dime to lose this weight. I've actually saved money. It's like getting paid to lose weight! So what plan am I on? I'm on the no nonsense, no excuses, eat less, exercise more, consistent effort equals consistent results, responsible portions, No plan—Plan. My only plan has been to change the way I think and feel about food and exercise while understanding and examining my past eating behaviors and food addictions.

We had a wonderful 5K tonight. All four of us were out there truckin'! What made this one special? It was soooo humid! I mean horribly humid. It made it much more challenging. We were dripping wet by the time we finished. Irene prepared a wonderful meal of lean sirloin, baked potato, and okra. It was so good! My plate registered at 480 calories tonight. And that includes Heinz 57 sauce and sour cream for the potato!

I sincerely appreciate you taking the time to read what I've written. This blog has given me a real education about myself along the way. I don't think I would realize even half of what I do now, if not for these nightly writing sessions. It's also been a big part of my success. Goodnight and...

Good Choices,
Sean

15 comments:

  1. You are so right--consistency in all circumstances is the key. If we continue to make excuses to eat badly we will never stop. There is always stress this or that, aunties birthday, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, blah, blah, blah--the list is never ending. A young friend was asking me tonight what we are doing and it was really so hard for her and her Mom to understand what we are doing--"counting calories, what does that mean?"

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  2. Very well done young man, I enjoy reading this and so does Margaret.

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  3. When people ask you the question: "how did you lose the weight?" and you reply "well, I eat less and exercise more" you can see they are disappointed with that answer, lol! They want to hear "I took so-and-so magic pills" or "I dance naked around the oak tree during a full moon" or "I had surgery to remove my internal organs" etc. I think I am going to have to come up with a more interesting answer, lol!

    Consistency IS the key!

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  4. Actually you just replied to my question and i was merely wondering what had worked for you :) I'm already happy with what i'm doing.
    Glad to see that it's working for you!

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  5. Miss Suzi!
    I knew that was you! I'm a bone head sometimes!!!
    Of course you know just as well as I do, we all get those questions...
    Fat(Free)Me has it so right in her above comment!!

    Thank you for reading!!

    Sean

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  6. A lot of people could learn a great deal from your "one day at a time" approach. What folks don't realize is that time passes so, so quickly. Keep putting good days together and this journey becomes a piece of (fat-free, low-sugar) cake.

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  7. Your such a kiss *ss to richard simmons. Doas he pay you or somthing! good stuf-what u write-i just dont get the constent mention of how great richard simmons is. are you gonna start weering shorts and tank tops too!

    i listen to you every morning on klor

    joe

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  8. Well, now I'm annoyed. Here I was thinking you had magic pills and magic powers and you say I have to eat less and move more? And do that CONSISTENTLY every single day? Sigh.

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  9. Its great to hear what works from a pro. Unfortunately many new weight lossers are consistent, but consistently messing up though. Stick to itness goes a long way!

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  10. Awesome post!! What you said is so, so true. Looking at all you've gone through makes me realize how flimsy my excuses are. Thanks you for making me really think!
    And "ruining" the holidays made me laugh! Oh the excuses we make when pie is on the line ;)

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  11. I didn't mind reading the whole thing. I've thought about that too. Sometimes when you want to lose weight, you think of all the "eating" episodes you don't want to miss. I have 2 weddings, my birthday, vaction, etc.. If you hang around someone who eats normally, they are doing the same exact thing you are. Eating the right amount of calories, not going crazy on the portions, no seconds or thirds! Great job on your weight loss so far, that's the way to do it!

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  12. Loved the title to this post! And I noticed your new profile pic-- yay! What a difference! I'm off to TOPS...ttyl.

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  13. Very inspiring, makes me want to get after it and renew my career in TV

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  14. You sir, are a man of integrity. I would have deleted all that negative kiss*ss stuff. Here I sit in my shorts and tank top, taking magic pills with the other anonymous posers, looking for an easy way out. Really good post. I look forward to many more.

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  15. I love your humor!!!
    Tami

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