"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start,
anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~ Anonymous

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Staying Focused


Over the weekend I've been thinking more and more on my weigh-in post and how it seems I got a little comfortable with my weight loss so far. I appreciate all the comments. They gave me something to think about. One comment that has really stuck in my mind was Diane saying "Stay focused and don't lose sight of where you want to be!"

That is my problem, and not just in weight loss.

Many times I get really excited about a project, start it, get distracted and then don't finish it. Or I do finish the project, but if it's one that needs upkeep I get lazy and don't have the motivation to maintain it.

Other times I am focused on an area of my life, but when things get hard I tend to just quit. It may be an obvious, "I give up." kind of quitting, or it may not be so obvious, a sort of "Well, things are getting tough, so I'll work on it as I'm able..some other day. "

I understand that there is balance in all things, but I know myself and my habit of not finishing things or backing off when some things gets hard is a habit that needs to change.

I notice that I tend to have one or two really good weeks and then the days/weeks that follow I tend to get lazy and think I can still see the same results. Sometimes I reach a goal, like losing the first 10 or 20 pounds, and I'm so excited that I just revel in that joy for a while instead of seeing it as a mile marker to be passed as I keep on going.

Well, this needs to change and I believe that it can. I don't believe that it's going to be easy, in fact it scares me a little to think I can change. It's hard to think I can change when I've always been this way.

Yet, though I have this habit in some areas I also have areas, life projects of sorts, that I've continued working on no matter what, and not gotten distracted in the process.

For example, I've stayed married for 14 years to the same man, I've had children and continue to learn how to be a better mom and how to better care for them, I've kept living for Jesus no matter what and I have relationships that I've kept up with for many years.

I have not let distractions keep me from staying focused on these areas of my life, so why should I let my weight loss journey be affected this way?

If I can stay focused on other, just as important, areas of my life, then I know I can make myself stay focused enough to see this journey through to the end. Maybe as I see my habits changing consistently in regards to weight loss I'll also see some change in how I approach other projects as well.

It's just going to take some hard work and...well, staying focused. :)

4 comments:

  1. I think having the blog community really helps-- "normal" may be careless eating and minimal exercise for many people I know in Real Life, but here in blogland I feel like the bar is set higher. Ultimately all I can do is to plan ahead and try to do good things with each day as it comes.

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  2. This is exactly what I teach people in my class Leah. To show them that the applying some of our strengths from life to weight loss is a great way to look at things. Like you said you have shown that you can stay committed to lots of things. So you know you have the capability, now finding the staying power is what's important.

    You can do it. Just don't allow complacency to slip in on you! I really believe in you!!

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  3. I finally made it over here again. You've been right about changing your eating habits, and forgo'ing the extra snacks at the fair. As in all things, it is work and commitment.

    This time, Leah, you are committed to loosing the weight and so far, it's been a healthy, life changing expierence. You've already learned so much about yourself through this.

    You're going to make it!!! You can continue to watch the numbers go down on the scale, because YOU are changing from the inside...out! I'm so proud of you!

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  4. I think we all struggle with this in some part of our lives, but the thing is, just as you have realized, it is all mental. If we can stay focused in one area, we can stay focused in another.

    Great post!

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