I have become complacent.  I have become accustomed to my size.  I have become lazy with my eating and my exercise.  How easy it is to become comfortable with the status quo?  I mean I don’t look bad (okay so my clothes are tight and bunch up in places).  I am not happy.  I pretend every day to try, but I am not making progress – making actual progress that is the true test, isn’t it?  You know it takes a lot of effort and energy to pretend.  Are you just making excuses?  Are you tired of it?  I am and I have decided to do something about it!

 Our recent Virginia SRD was inspiring and my complacency shook as I saw the successes of the winners and the KOPS.  I am just plain sick and tired of being complacent.  Of every year saying “this is my year” and then it not being my year.    

 So how do you get rid of complacency?  Shake it up – get out of your routine, get out of your comfort zone!  Think how you feel after going to a new place for vacation or to a museum or to a play or taking a new class or making a new friend…or…or…or 

1. What is holding you back? (exercise and dieting only take you so far)
2. Establish some achievable goals
3. Plan (your exercise, plan your meals and snacks)
4. Journal
5. Try on clothes (check size and fit)
6. Measure yourself
7. Take a photo
8. Make a vision motivation board
9. Aim at a steady downward slide of the scale (my co-worker asked “how do you know when you have really lost weight and it is not water weight?”  My response was when the scale is consistently lower versus the ups and downs of water weight, clothing, etc.  For example if your weight hovers around 171 then on week 1 it is 170, week 2 it is 169, week 3 it is 172, week 4 it is 168, week 5 it is 169, week 6 it is 168.5 – chances are your new “real” weight is 169.  It shows a downward trend.)
10. Exercise consistently and FEEL your body and how it now feels better (I have exercised at least 30 minutes a day for the last 2 weeks and it feels GREAT) – Fit happens!  Don’t be Fluffy (as my friend Jane calls it) get fit.  I work at fitting it in!
11. Give yourself a mantra of  “I am at my goal of XXX and maintaining it easily” – I read where repeating this will get into your subconscious and become a self-fulfilling prophecy
12. Baby steps make for big success (drink your water, eat your fruits, eat your veggies, exercise)
13. Challenge yourself
14. Reward yourself
15. Remember why you are doing this…it is worth it (better health, improved self-esteem, more fun)!

My new necklace reads on one side: “Love the life you live” and on the other side reads “Live the life you love.”  The life I love is fit and not “fluffy.”

 Are you in a rut?  The difference between a rut and the grave is only about 3 feet.  So get off your duff and get out of your rut!  It is as TOPS slogan says “It’s My Time.”  Isn’t it your time, too?

 Encouraging Thought from Royal and Linda Coan (TOPS #AR 129, Springdale, cyberTOPS) with permission

“It’s time to take action today and do at least one of those activities that we have been putting off doing.  So off the couch and get active.  You’ll find it’s worth it and it really doesn’t hurt.  You can do it.  You are the STAR of your Goal.”