Don't beat yourself up-just do the small things

I read a quote this weekend on Roni's blog that I love:

“If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results.”

This is good for me because lately I've been so focused on results.  And there isn't necessarily anything wrong with that, but it can be counterproductive sometimes.  I remember back in 2006 I used to buy a pair of jeans every now and then that were too small and hang them up and focus on getting into them and it worked.  I buckled down and that motivated me big time.  But just because it worked in 2006 doesn't mean it has to work now.  After all- I'm 4 years older, in my thirties (hello metabolism???) and have grey hairs in the pattern of a dalmation on my head.   And right now I'm really needing to focus on the small, itty bitty changes that pay off big time.  And when I do- I usually see results pretty quickly.  For example, I've been doing no sugar.  Mainly to curb my cravings for sugar.  And sure, maybe one day my calories are below what they normally are and I may have the "room" to eat something sugary.  But I don't.  Because I know that for me, eating sugar results in craving sugar.  It's like a detox.  When I'm clean, I don't desire it as much.  So by taking that small step- I actually avoid a massive, catastrophic sugar epidemic.  And that's just special.

So is this:

I know so many women (don't we all?) that try dieting and fail.  Over and over and over again.  And it kills us!  The guilt, the discouragement, the sense of failure.  Hell, if you go into a bookstore- it's sort of embarrassing how many dieting/health books there are on those shelves.  The section just gets bigger and bigger.  And yet we're the largest people on earth (Americans).  I think it's because we're being sold magic pills and before/after shots.  We look for them and seek them out.  "Lose 14 lbs in 7 days!"  "Eat what you want and get high school skinny!"  "Easiest diet you'll every be on!"  I think they just set us up for failure.  Because we're not really dealing with the moment in time that count: when you're changing your habits.  It takes 21 days for something to become a habit.  No seriously.  There's like evidence and stuff.  So 3 weeks.  (Aren't I smart??)  Think back to diets you've been on.  3 weeks is usually what I call the "honeymoon" phase of diets.  Where its easy simply because it's new and fun and different.  But what happens when it gets old and monotonous and Thanksgiving is around the corner?  Well, you slowly slip off.  And it's at that moment where you make a choice.  And THAT choice is what will set you apart.  Now- I believe in sustainability.  I do not believe in making your diet your religion and getting all Purist on people.  Just have a plan and stick to it.  It might be that you will stay on plan to a T until Thanksgiving dinner- where you'll let yourself have 1 full (read: loaded and piled high) plate and, hey, maybe TWO slices of pie.  And that's your plan.  And maybe that's excessive- but it's your plan and you're sticking to it.  And then guess what?  You won't do the guilt thing where you say "Fuck.  I just screwed this up. Oh well- guess I'll start my diet on New Years Day."  No, you'll feel good about yourself because you stuck to a plan and you're right back at it the next meal.  Now isn't that nice??  Sure, you may not lose that week- but you probably won't gain and you've probably done some considerable damage control.

Wow.  I should really take my own advice sometimes...

Anyway- I'm excited for this year.  I'm excited about all the new things I'm learning about the human body and human mind.  I'm excited to reach some goals and excited that I'm doing it in a healthy, sustainable way.

BTW- I thought for half a second about registering for a Figure Competition on Aug 21st.  But I don't know that I can get to where I need to be in time.  So it might be in the fall or possible beginning of 2011.  But I will have a date soon!  It's a large, fascinating world in the meat head arena- navigating is proving to be tricky.  My new goal for the next few months is to make some friends on the inside.  Gather all the tanned, blonde, ripped ladies around me so that we can braid each other's hair and they can rub off some of their mojo on me (or oil at the least).

Message boards: here I come...