Looking back, when I first began my journey to better health, weight loss and now training like an athlete, my thinking was all wrong.
I’m a pretty driven “type A” person, and applied myself to accomplish my weight loss goal. What I didn’t understand at the time was, well many things, but what I believe to be the biggest obstacle to reaching your weight loss goal and maintaining it. The goal date was wrong.
I’m a big believer in setting realistic achievable goals, writing them down and sharing them with people who support you etc. What I’m referring to is the real goal and real date. Life is not cramming for a final because that activity is not sustainable long term. Either is dieting. Extreme calorie reduced diets, extreme restrictive food diets can not be maintained for life. If we are really honest, don’t we want a lifetime of health and wellness?
Yes, I understand getting to the perfect size for the grad dress (I have had teenage daughters) or the perfect Mother of the Bride or Groom dress …. But what does life look like after that “event” is a distant memory?
I got fat slow, so why would it be reasonable to get into shape fast. What if we agreed that in my case with life treating me pretty good, I gained one pound per month. Not a big deal right? It’s just a pound. I fluctuate 3 to 5 pounds per month now. Simple math says that’s 12 pounds in a year, over the course of seven years, that is a weight gain of 84 pounds. Now that’s a problem.
Working consistently for 2 years those 80 pounds are gone! I feel great, my health has improved immensely. But notice that it took me 2 years, not a fad diet or some unhealthy routine. Most people who I have not seen for a year or two are shocked by the transformation.
My point here is simple. So what if it takes 2 to 3 years to get to your goal weight. You just need to start. What I didn’t realize was that the healthier I got, the better I felt, the more I wanted to keep going, and do more. Now the path that I took and the program that I follow may not be your cup of tea or work for you. But trust me, every time you see progress, or one of your supporters cheers you on, you feel a little bit better. You make healthier choices because you want to, not because you have to. Now that simple understanding is the key to sustained health and wellness. It’s a lifestyle!
I’m not on a diet and did not diet to get this result. When I refer to the word “diet” I mean an unsustainable way of eating.
The prosperity of the world we live in has caused us to be gluttonous without even knowing. Now that I have a better understanding of food, nutrition, and portions, I’m shocked at how much most people overeat without even knowing. It’s absolutely obscene.
My program summarized:
● I eat clean,
● don’t salt my food,
● eat smaller portions,
● eat more protein,
● drink lots and lots of water,
● eat less carbs,
● eat healthy fats,
● drink less alcohol,
● don’t eat white sugar,
● don’t drink cow’s milk and
● exercise at least 4 days per week.
My workouts are age appropriate. I’m not 20, I’m 50. It takes longer for my body to recover, that’s a fact.
This is what works for me. I sought counsel from people who have expertise in food plans and healthy eating, exercise, and nutritional supplements.
I own it, I’m responsible for my body and my health. I got fat because of what I did. It’s not my parent’s fault, my wife’s fault, my job’s fault, it’s my fault. It’s not up to the government, my doctor, or anyone else to fix it. It’s up to me! (My doctors are shocked at the results and have asked me “how did you do it, what do you do?”)
I’m happy to share what I’ve learned with anyone who is interested. No judgment, I’m doing this for me, for my wife, and kids. I quite frankly don’t care what anyone else thinks.
I will cheer you on like the many I now cheer and applaud for their own effort to get health and lose weight.
Parting thought –
if not now, when, and if not why? you deserve it, believe it – Doug Morneau
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