2.12.2010

Don't out think yourself..and a perfect 10 update...

Lets knock out the perfect 10 thing.
I doubt Steve will be able to check this week...he has had a horrible loss.
But in the spirit of steve...I will post this anyways.
I did my 6 days of cardio...(7 actually)
I did situps (I can do all 200 now)...and only one day upper body. (I don't know what my malfunction is...I just don't like lifting weights.  I can do cardio forever...get me around weights and I break out in hives.)
I am drinking my water...
I have cut down to one cup of coffee a day....
this wasn't a part of my perfect 10 stuff..but for me it is  a gargantuan accomplishment...
I could have happily hooked an Iv up at one point...I loved coffee so much.
I am 'better now'.
lol.
I am getting to bed by 9 or so.....a three hour improvement on the midnight thing.

Again...if any of my readers didn't know...Steve's dad passed away....this is a really good time to show support for a fellow blogger...so if you could pop on over and show him some blog love....that would be cool. You can get there by clicking on the perfect 10 pic to the right.

Now to the rest of my title...
It may seem a little strange after yesterday's post, to talk about NOT OUT THINKING YOURSELF.
When yesterday was all about the thinking.
But here is what I mean....
I used to think
I will start on Friday...or sunday or monday..
Or..
I will eat this many calories over this many days and I should lose this much weight.
(Usually some ridiculously low number that left me starving...causing me to binge...scrap all those numbers....over exercise....try harder...then fail and get fatter.)

I am saying.
Don't do that.
Don't think...
Just Do.

Say right this very moment you are fatter than you have ever been in your whole life.
Now this might cause you to think.
Wow, I am a fat pig....I can't believe how fat I have let myself get....
I suck.
How could anyone love me....
screech*
Let's stop our internal tape right here for a word of warning.
This tape you keep playing...
WILL. KEEP. YOU. FAT.
(This was my internal tape...)

That internal tape is on a loop fed by your fevered brain and misplaced sense of guilt.
So...
Turn off the tape.
Hit the stop button...
Heck, shred it if you have to.
When the tape starts say "I'll feel worse about myself tomorrow."
And take a ten minute walk.
Say...
You know....
I think I will write down what I have been eating for about a week.
See where my calories are...
Then after that week is over you can say...
Heck,
I can get rid of 500 of those calories.
And so you do.
I can walk 10 minutes a day...
and so you do.
You do...
You don't think about it...ponder what ifs...
Don't gaze wonderingly off into the future and start pondering "How many pounds could I lose if I cut out 1000 calories, climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and  start eating only pumpkin seeds."
You focus on today...
You don't think about yesterday, you don't think about tomorrow.
Everything is today.
Trust me, tomorrows will come...
They pile on top of one another until they are stacked in neat rows..
They can be rows of personal victory,
or rows of personal regrets.
I start last May...
may 4th.
I started by throwing out a 450 calorie cup of grande white mocha with whip.
I got home...I put on my walking shoes...
I walked around the block.
I did it the next day.
And the next.
I ate 1800 calories...that was it...I KNEW I was eating more than that before...probably closer to 3500 calories.
I didn't stop to ask myself..."Will this finally be the time?"
I didn't ask that question till I crossed 200.
Don't ask that question till you are strong enough to answer yes.
Just keep going.
Until the doing becomes the thinking and  your thinking becomes the doing.

Hugs...
Chris

18 comments:

Amber said...

Great Post! It all comes down to taking it one step at a time.

Love the photos at top.
Was that really you? I know I took the picture but I don't even recognise you in that photo.

The second looks great, yet I think you need one in the Pink jacket or the new fancy red top.

your my hero :}

Brenda said...

**This tape will self-destruct in 30 seconds** See the smoke?
ok, couldn't help it. Wasn't that on the old Mission Impossible?
Really good thoughts, Chris.
Heading over to Steve's.

Ellen said...

Ah, the power of positive thinking. Thanks for the reminder.

Kim said...

Eye of the Tiger baby...Eye of the Tiger. lol. I could totally feel you channeling Jillian. You oughta be a personal trainer/life coach or something...b/c when I come over to your blog I get pumped! :) lol Great post! Now I'm gonna go walk a mile in the snow...er..well maybe I'll start on my treadmill for 15 min. hehe

Linda Pressman said...

Yeah, Chris, what Kim said. Life coaching definitely in your future. It doesn't take grandiose schemes, killer workout programs, or starvation. It takes one tiny footstep in the right direction and a willingness to take that same footstep each day.

You rock, girl!

Hanlie said...

Excellent post! We just have to take care of ourselves "today" and tomorrow will take care of itself.

Onewhocares said...

Wow what a great post. I am definitely my own worst enemy when it comes to weight loss with my negative thinking. You really hit the nail on the head! Great to see the pics showing how far you've come too! Well done!

Hallie said...

I agree, I think this is true. Thinking is a little antithetical to doing, and the more thinking you do, the less productive you might very well be. That's why I feel like it's hard for people to start sometimes. You need a system, but you have to *think* to develop your own system. People who are having this problem should get their system given to them, either from a magazine article, a book, or nutritionist or fitness specialist. That takes the thinking away from you and you can focus on the doing. I've learned I'm very unproductive at work (as lighting designer) when I have to be the thinker *and* the doer. I'm really good at doing either, but if I have to do both, I get bogged down and go really slow. Once the system is working for you, then you can make amendments.

Retta said...

Consistent doing... the missing ingredient in too many journies!
Good post, Chris. :-)
Loretta
=^..^=

Bowmanh23 said...

Awesome post! I so need to turn off the tape! I really love your blog. It is always inspiring and insightful. I gave you the Happy Blogger award. Your blog is listed on my last post at funfitandfabulicious.blogspot.com

Thanks for the inspiration!

Fiona said...

What a fantastic post! It is exactly what I needed to read today. Thank you!!

Lucy said...

Hello-first timer to your blog. I loved this post.

It's encouraging to read that "it" does work: cutting back a bit here and there, a ten minute walk (vs. a 2 hr workout, 10 mile run, etc.).

Helen said...

You are what you think you are. It's really that simple.

Robin said...

Thanks for leaving a comment on my post. I haven't checked into it, but I will. I read several of your posts and I recognize my own personal need to address *everything* and my inability to do so (exasperating). Let me just say about your other stuff that, in particular, I liked your water/fire blog and it can be applied to so many things about life. Which brings me back around to the tape loop here. We all have a negative tape loop. Yours ~ right now ~ has to do with your weight. Once you get that conquered you will find that there are other tape loops that you have to turn off. They are everywhere and they are all designed to make you feel powerless or less than or incapable. Bad bad bad tape loops. It is good that you recognize them for what they are and know where that off switch is.

Anyway, I am glad that you stopped by my blog and I hope to see you again:-)

outdoor.mom said...

Glad you're doing so well!! Good job!! We will have to keep Steve in our prayers :-) Very very sad. My co-worker also just lost her husband this past weekend. He had a heart attack and he was only 52. She's in her 40's. I am so grieving for her. I can't imagine life so young as a widow.
Wow are you kicking butt!! I'm really proud of you. Sorry i haven't commented for a while. I've been on vacation for a few weeks.
Have a Happy Valentines Day Weekend!! (Did you get your husband something special?!)

Foodie Girl said...

So f*in inspirational.

nuff said

antgirl said...

That's how I went about it, too, taking on what I could do. One little bit at a time. It works. :)

Anonymous said...

"Don't ask that question till you are strong enough to answer yes."

Amen! LOVE focusing on the DOING rather than the THINKING about doing.