ALL OR NOTHING ATTITUDES AND WHY THEY DONT WORK

Ok So here goes - my first blog post - yeah:)

Well it is fitting that my first post be while all 4 of my kids are home sick. Over the past few years I have tried to get fit and get into shape. I would (with all excitment and gumption) start a new diet and/or exercise regimen. Only to get a few days into it and BAM - hit a brick wall. Usually it would be that I was up all night with a sick child. There were many other excuses I could come up with - job ups and downs, stress, busy time of year, holidays, moving etc etc. I was an "all or nothing" person. So if I got thrown off my path for a day or two due to any circumstance - that was it - I would quit. I would feel like a failure due to my all or nothing attitude. I was doing a lot of things that I HATED to try to lose weight so really, any excuse to quit and I would jump at it. It took a lot of soul searching on my part and finding a great support system - but I have learned that I was doing many things wrong. First of all, slow and steady wins the race. I was looking for many quick fixes - sure I would drop a quick 5-10 pounds but as soon as I deviated - I would gain 15. Second, I wasn't sticking with anything because I wasn't doing what I enjoy. There are so many forms of exercise out there that it is virtually impossible not to find something you enjoy. You have to adopt a way of eating and exercising that you can do for life. That is what I have learned.

Starting in 2009 I decided to "start over" if you will. I was only going to do things that make sense. I exercise for ENJOYMENT and I eat in a healthy way that is allowing slow - yet STEADY weight loss for me. I feel like a whole new person - I am a whole new person. I am no longer all or nothing. Which brings me back to the beginning. Yes, I have 4 sick kids at home right now. No I have not gotten a good night sleep in two nights. I did skip the workout I had on schedule yesterday - I listened to my exhausted body and skipped it. But guess what? That would be where I quit before - I would say "oh well, I messed up - why bother now?" But now I say - ok, I am going to hit the weights today because TODAY IS A NEW DAY and I am feeling strong. This is the new me. And I love the new me.