Roadside Assistance

Last week’s Weight Watchers topic was the Ripple Effect. We talked about how every small change we make can lead to big results.

Whether you’re early on in your wellness journey or coming back after a hiatus, this is not the easiest notion to embrace.  

I mean, sure, we can go along with the concept. It makes decent sense. If we introduce one small change at a time, master that change, add another, then another, eventually it will lead to something (or someone) amazing, right?

Right! But how do we get there? And by there, I mean the dreaded G word, GOAL.

I remember when I first started my wellness journey. I sat quietly in the back of the Weight Watchers meeting room in disbelief at the number I saw on the scale. It seemed so overwhelming. I sat there berating myself, wondering how I had let myself get to that point. Thinking it was going to take forever to lose the weight. Knowing that I had failed before, why try again. As I looked at the path that was ahead of me, I had serious doubts about my longevity, ability and commitment to the journey.

Fast forward 16 years, and here I am, at goal.

Of course I have faced some trials along the way. I have no doubt that life will continue to put up road blocks and speed bumps as I continue my journey.  I recently heard someone compare weight loss setbacks to getting a flat tire.  She asked “if you get a flat tire, do you go ahead and pop the rest of your tires”? No, you repair the tire and keep on trucking.

The small changes that I’ve made over the years; they are my emergency repair kit. By making each of the below changes, one change at a time, I have roadside assistance for life. I have the assurance that no matter what happens to my car, I know how to get it back on the road.

I thought it would be kind of neat to come up with 38 changes that have helped me to lose my 38 pounds.

So here goes. 

I:

1. Drink more water.

2. Drink less coke.

3. Eat more fruits.

4. Eat Try more veggies.

5. Increased my activity.

6. Decreased my black and white thinking.

7. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.

8. Make time to take care of me.

9. Eat less fried foods.

10. Eat more whole grains.

11. Became a Weight Watchers leader.

12. Surround myself with healthy, positive, people.

13. Set small measurable goals.

14. Evaluate my progress once a week.

15. Focus less on the scale.

16. Focus more on my health.

17. Laugh more.

18. Moderate my stress by being active.

19. Started this blog.

20. Try one new food a month (hey, that’s a stretch goal for me).

21. Practice self-forgiveness.

22. Open myself to new opportunities.

23. Take control of my environment.

24. Track all of my food and drinks, even the not-so-smart choices.

25. View every meal as a fresh start.

26. Don’t let my emotions sabotage my eating. And if I do, I go back to #25.

27. Eat less prepackaged meals.

28. Eat more fresh foods.

29. Allow myself to indulge. And if I indulge a little too much, I go back to #25.

30. Try a few new healthy recipes a month.

31. See food as fuel for my body, not a solution to my problems.

32. Understand that this is a lifestyle change, not a diet.

33. Always have a healthy snack with me in case of emergency.

34. Eat a snack before I go to social events.

35. Don’t use special occasions as an excuse to overeat. And if I do, I go back to #25.

36. Put my fork down in between each bite.

37. Drink a full glass of water after dinner if I’m still hungry.

38. Take it one day at a time.

I’d like to challenge you to make one small change this week. Just ONE. That’s all I ask.

One small manageable change. 

Once you make that change, start on another.

And before you know it, you will be exactly where you want to be.

As you build that momentum, there’s nothing or no-one that can stop you.

Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara