I wrote a post earlier today about recommitting myself to my weight loss goals and I am determined to do that, but I also need to take control of my life and refocus on the things that are important.
Just so you understand what I'm talking about here is alittle background information on myself. I have a very specific pattern in my life and its like clockwork. I find something that I really want to do and I get all gung ho and take on the challenge full force but that momentum only lasts so long and then I crash. I do this with house cleaning....with dieting.....with craft projects....with pretty much everything. I feel like if I'm not doing everything perfectly then I'm failing. Of course its nice to always try to do your best but for example in school if I make anything less than a 100 then I feel like I'm failing myself.
Right now I'm in the downward cycle of this pattern. I'm not making out my lists like I use to which always motivated me to get things done. I'm not thinking out my eating or planning ahead, I'm just eating what is available. I haven't worked on my scrapbooks in probably a year and this is something I use to love to do. I'm procrastinating with alot of things and just being plain lazy. Now when I come out of this cycle I will be like a crazy woman trying to fix all the damage I have done and accomplish everything I have let pile up. I do recognize that this isn't a healthy pattern and its definitely something I need to work on.
I recommited myself to my weight loss journey this morning and I want to do the same thing with other things in my life. I need to take a healthy approach to these things though. I still think lists are my best tool and give me a starting point so when I get back from walking in a few minutes I'm going to make out a list of all the things I would like to accomplish around my home, in school, with my weight loss, with my kids and with life in general. This sounds like alot and it may take me some time to do but it will be worth so I can start working towards all my goals. I have to find ways to get myself out of this destructive pattern I live in instead of waiting for it to cycle through.
Does anyone else feel like they go through these patterns? Do you go from 100% motivated to completely not caring? What do you do to get yourself out of this pit?
Yes, I think a lot of people go through this. Unfortunately, that doesn't make it any easier to deal with. I also think a lot of it may have to do with me being a woman, because I must say some of my ups and down correspond to my cycle. (Sorry if TMI)
ReplyDeleteI am trying to refocus too, and tonight I think I'm going to take a long hot bubble bath, treat myself to some spa like stuff, and read a little bit. Sometimes a little girlie time is what I need to get some energy.
Get determined, get excited, try something new! That always gets me going :)
Oh my goodness I am the queen of procrastinating.. I think the fact that we use this method to admit what faults or destructive patterns we have are a victory on all it´s own right? I believe you have the upper hand in that you make your lists and plan things, that is a method, the problem seems to lie in losing momentum which I happen to relate to as well. Hmm what can we do? Think of the end result, wouldn´t it be that much rewarding to finally get to that finish line so to speak than any feeling of relief than giving up halfway? especially if we´re going to be at it again anyway? Just reommit yourself every morning like with marriage hehe. Best of luck to you Christina!
ReplyDeleteWow it's amazing what we find out about each other and how we share things in common. I too am guilty of taking on too much and then getting myself in trouble either from lost interest or exhaustion. I've had to learn to prioritize what was important to focus on for a period of time - we can't do all of it and do it well. So for now my focus is on our day to day schedule and ME...The other things can wait.
ReplyDeleteOlivia your girlie time sounds absolutely wonderful and its been along time since I treated myself to something special like that. Maybe I will add those things to my list of things to do.
ReplyDeleteDiet Chic it would be rewarding to finally get to the finish line. Maybe if I break things down into manageable tasks then it won't be overwhelming and I won't want to give up.
Mind Over Fatter it sounds like you have a way that works for you and I guess thats what we all have to do is find what works for us.
I think it's a pattern for overweight people. I have to say, I'm getting better at it. I have way more commitment to everything that I do than I did when I was younger. That's the reason that I went through so many activities as a kid and so few stuck. But, right now, dance is sticking and trying to become a doctor is sticking and (so far) trying to lose weight is sticking. And I've had a lot of setbacks with the other two and haven't been perfect, which has been hard for me.
ReplyDeleteThe weight loss, I haven't had any setbacks (aka any gains) quite yet. What I'm scared about is that I seem to be retaining water this week and I'm always hungry and I'm afraid I'm going to see a gain. But I just have to tell myself that I'm not perfect and that I can keep going, so we'll see what happens.
Good luck! I'd love to see your lists.
-Raych
http://losingwithraych.blogspot.com
Raych congratulations on sticking with so many things. I am impressed that you are trying to become a doctor. I always believed I could have been a doctor if I had just set my mind to it when I was younger. Don't worry so much about alittle gain because its eventually got to happen and its just another challenge we have to learn to deal with. I'm still working on my lists but I will post them when I'm done. Maybe having them for the whole world to see will help me be motivated to accomplish all my goals, crossing them off as they are finished.
ReplyDeleteI am very much that way. I get obsessed and give 150% and then collapse unable to go on because I wore myself out. In this round of the diet war I decided to take a more laid back approach and it is really working. The most essential thing is just to be prepared and then just do it day in, day out. No crazy schedules or goals, just follow my routine and relax.
ReplyDeleteI'm impressed with your recommitment, particularly when you have so much else going on in your life. I'm also impressed by your exercise diary in the side bar - mine would have a lot more 'lazy' days!
ReplyDeleteI have to take one thing at a time and absolutely surround myself with reminders about my goal so that I can't lose my motivation. It's still hard though at times. And there are certainly moments where it does not seem worth it. Those are fewer thought, than the moments where it feels amazing. :-)
ReplyDeleteHey, it sounds like you were writing about me! I've just started a challenge with another blogger to get focused with Christmas as the short term goal. I've just set some mini-goals each week of little things to do to help and so far so good. Jump over to http://transformationaldiaries.com/blog/archives/1086 if you want to see what worked for me this week with doing a chart for my fridge. Might help you too..... I'm a new follower too - just bumped your numbers over 100!
ReplyDeleteKimberly thats kind of what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to stop being so obsessive about getting things done and just do my best. Stop feeling bad about what I haven't accomplished and start being proud of what I have.
ReplyDeleteAllison you have no idea how much I want to be lazy and not walk as much as I do but having that exercise dairy for everyone to see really keeps me motivated to walk. Plus setting a goal of walking 160 miles by New Years is alot of motivation to.
Blubeari I wish I could take on only one thing at a time but it seems like I'm always focused on a million things I need to get done.
Catherine I checked out your blog and I really like the chart idea and this idea could also be good with my kids and getting them to do their chores. I'm a new follower of your blog and thanks so much for pushing me over the 100 mark.
Lists are a great thing. I do them and my joy in life is making the lists, accomplishing the task, and then marking the task off! I love to see a page full of marked off stuff! It is a rush!
ReplyDeleteShane I have always loved making lists and I to get a sense of accomplishment out of seeing all the things marked off.
ReplyDeleteYes, I'm a list person too, and I love marking off items from the list. However, I almost never mark off everything on the list, and I usually only mark a few items off. But I'm okay with that. At least it keeps me from forgetting all the things I need to do. The reason I make lists is not because I'm ultra organized; I keep them because I'm quite the opposite and will let everything slide if I don't have it written down. Best to you as you conquer more areas of your life. But go easy on yourself. You CAN do ANYTHING, but you CAN'T do EVERYTHING. You're human, and that's a good thing!
ReplyDeleteHi Charlotte. I'm trying to just do alittle at a time, there is noway I can finish everything on my lists in one day. I just want to get some stuff done I have been putting off forever.
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