The Behavior of Change
“The funny thing about a problem is that once you deal with it, it goes away.”
Are You Trying?
For the past 6 week I’ve been trying to lose the extra holiday/vacation weight I put on. According to the scale I’m up about 5 lbs. Most of the day I don’t even notice it. It’s only when I get in the shower, or at night before bed. That’s when it sticks out to me, and that’s when I usually mutter to myself something along the lines of, “I just can’t get rid of this belly.”
Now, the reality is that I actually have not been trying to Lise it. Ever since combing back from vacation and hosting the Christmas holiday, I’ve been allowing myself to indulge in food that I normally wouldn’t eat. Food that I wasn’t eating before my trip. The change has been sparked in part by a new desire to cook more recipes than are not in my normal repertoire, in terms of types of food, flavor, ingredients, and technique. Things like homemade granola (loaded with sugar), and homemade beef stew (loads with fat).
So really, it’s no surprise that I have yet to put a dent in those extra lbs. because I’m not really trying to. In fact, I’m consciously doing the opposite wow what I know I should be doing. And every time I look at my belly, I’m reminded of this. Right after I mutter to myself about not being able to lose it I follow it with a smile and say, “yea, but I’m kind of enjoying it.” I’m not ready to lose it. I’m not ready to begin trying. I’m enjoying the different foods, indulging for a change, and I don’t intend on stopping right now.
I talk to a lot of people who ask me for diet and exercise advice. Some are open to what I have to say, others are not. They don’t exactly say that, I can just tell by their excuses. “O that’s really hard, I love my pasta.” “What will I eat for cereal?” Or, “I don’t have the time.” They don’t realize it, but what they are really saying is “I’m not ready.” And that’s ok. But recognize the difference.
Stop torturing yourself with something that you think you want. If you don’t want to give up your pasta or cereal, and you don’t want to wake up early to exercise, then you don’t want to make a change to improve your health. Not yet at least.
You’re not actually trying, the way I’m not actually trying to lose my extra pounds but yet wondering why every night I see this “unwanted” belly. But one day I will, and so will you. Until then, enjoy the ride, stop beating yourself up, and come back when you’re ready. The point is, if you really wanted to do it, you would. Because when you really want something, you get it done.