I have lost about eight pounds in the past two years. It’s not a big improvement, but it is an improvement.
I can’t do a crash diet, or any “diet,” really. If a change is going to last, it has to be sustainable. So I just want to encourage you, whether you’re trying to lose weight, lay down the tobacco, or become a more patient person, you can do it if you set a realistic goal you can sustain for the long term.
For me that meant instead of eating two pieces of pizza, I can get by with 1 and 3/4 and still be full enough. Instead of filling my bowl with ice cream, I can make it only 90% full, and still feel satisfied. Maybe I do that for a few months till I’m comfortable with it, and then reduce my ice cream another 5-10%, which isn’t that hard. If I’m hating every minute of it, I won’t stick with it.
So, whatever it is you’ve given up on, don’t be afraid to try again — as long as you’re setting realistic goals. And that will probably mean something really, really small. I have hated exercising in a gym forever, so when my doctor told me I need to anyways, I had to start small.
I rode the exercise bike for just five minutes a day, I didn’t try to break a sweat, and I didn’t do it every day. Because that was a goal I could actually accomplish and not get weary of doing it.
Eventually I worked my way up to six minutes, and then very slightly faster. A year and a half later, I’m up to ten minutes, and I ride fast for 30 seconds and then slow for 30. Eleven minutes is too much for me right now. Maybe I’ll feel ready for it next year, or never.
If you want to be less sedentary, maybe park at the back of the parking lot so you walk further, and only do it in nice weather. Maybe you can at least sustain that.
If you want to read more, can you read — and sustain — two pages every week?
If you want to be more confident, I’ll bet you could stall a moment before giving in instead of just laying down and taking it. You could probably say, “Hang on a second. I need to go to the bathroom,” or, “Can I call you back in a few minutes?” If you still give in, at least you’ve discovered you can say No and hold your ground for two minutes. That’s an improvement.
Free Spirit Seed Company 