Winning the Race

Last week, during our company meeting, one topic that came up was how Team New Zealand finally came to win the America’s Cup.  The focus of our meeting was about “getting better” by setting small goals that result in big change over time. It was said that Team New Zealand was able to win the America’s Cup by making small focused changes in their performance, and these changes helped them to win the race.

This image really stuck in my mind, picturing the crew working together as a team to tweak their performance really got me thinking about my work and personal performance and how I could kick things up a notch. It also got me thinking about my weight loss efforts.  I love Weight Watcher’s because they embrace this notion of small goals leading to big change.  When you join, you work toward reaching 5% of your weight loss, then 10% of your weight loss, then finally your goal weight.  This makes that daunting weight loss (that seems to take forever) more achievable.

This time around for me on Weight Watcher’s, just like Team New Zealand, I decided to make small manageable changes. I decided that making drastic changes just weren’t sustainable in the long term for me. And as hard as it was to accept, I had to embrace the fact that small changes do not lead to instant results. There are so many diet programs out there that promise a quick fix- lose 20 inches in 20 days or lose 30 pounds in 30 days- and these may work short term, but as soon as you go off the plan, or stop taking the magic pills, the weight loss comes back on.

Those of you who know me well know I am an extremely picky eater. My repertoire of vegetables consists of green beans. I throw caution to the wind by trying wheat bread. And that’s OK. I might not be eating perfect, but I’m eating better. Back in the day, my typical lunch from Burger King was a Whopper, large fries, large coke and an apple pie. Now, I really don’t choose to go to Burger King, but if I do with my kids, I make different choices. I now have a kid’s cheeseburger, apple fries and a small coke. Yes, I still have my coke; I love me an iced cold Coca-Cola! I’d rather have a coke once a week and savor it and have water the rest of the week. It may not seem like a lot, but that’s a difference of 990 calories for one meal. Imagine the impact this small change can make over several meals per week, per year and MAN, you will start to win that race.

Weight loss, is a life change, tweaking small habits over time until you reach and then stay at your goal. For me, weight loss is about making those changes but still living and enjoying my life.

What’s one small change you can make this week that could lead to big results?

Ask for help, make a choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara

Baggage Check

A few weeks ago during our Weight Watcher’s meeting, our leader asked the question “besides the scale, how do you measure your success?” There were a variety of great responses- more energy, taking less medication, able to exercise longer, able to play with my kids more, clothing is loose and just overall feeling better. Our leader talked about visual reminders of success. It’s a great way to notice your weekly weight loss successes, big and small; from a five pound bag of sugar to a ten pound bag of potatoes. The first time around on Weight Watcher’s, I lost 40 pounds. I was carrying around four large bags of potatoes, no wonder I was so tired all the time. This time around on Weight Watcher’s, the weight is coming off a lot slower. I’m fourteen years older and my priorities have shifted. Most weeks, after working very hard, my weight loss is .5 pounds. And that’s OK, as long as the scale is moving in the right direction.  

Think about the size of a one pound dumbbell, or a can of vegetables; although they may be small, they still take up some real estate and it’s a great way to visualize the smaller weight losses coming off your body. Last year, when I worked in an office, I used to carry a fabulous purple leather laptop bag. Because I had to walk from the car into the office and up two flights of stairs, I loaded that bag up. It held my laptop, work files, lunch bag, water bottle and so forth.  And let me tell you, that bag was hea-vy! Every day when I entered into the lobby, I was faced with a choice- walk the two flights of stairs, or take the elevator and every day (unless I was feeling seriously spunky); I took the elevator because the bag was so darned heavy. One night after work, I decided to weigh my laptop bag and it weighed eleven pounds!

Fast forward to today.  I have lost 22 pounds- two laptop bags! My visual reminder is my purple laptop bag. I was so tired carrying that extra weight each day that I took the elevator, it was really bogging me down. I wonder, what extra weight are you carrying on your shoulders each day? Is someone or something weighing you down? What can you do to lighten your load? And how can others around you help?

Ask for help, make a choice, commit to the choice and continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara