Day 179 Find A Goal, Keep Your Focus

I guess without thinking about it, I have decided to post things geared towards any newbies in the community. I have started following a few new members and find their enthusiasm infectious. But, aren't we all enthusiastic for week one, sometimes week two? I have had years where I got off to a strong start, tailed after week two, half assed it on week three and by week four, my efforts were a long lost memory. Once again, I have come to a eye opening realization with regard to keeping motivated. Before, when I started my weight loss, I never had a real goal in mind other than losing weight. That was it. So the couple of times I was successful to a degree, I wasn't able to maintain, because... DUNH DUNH DUUUUUUUUUUNH..... I had reached my goal, the only goal I had set. And the times I just plain failed? I lost interest, I lost that initial enthusiasm. That enthusiasm may get you going, but it won't keep you on the train tracks. Especially if after the original burst of success, you experience a week or two that is discouraging.

I have set two goals which I keep in my minds eye at all times, one very short term goal, and one very long term goal. My short term goal is kinda goofy, but it keeps me motivated. I want to take a trip to an amusement park this year, and not worry one time whether or not I will fit in the rides! Moreover, I want to fit comfortably in all those rides! So for the short term, that is what is keeping me in line this winter. My long term goal is much more important to me. I love my family. So much so, that is what I reflected when I created the name of my blog. I am in the process of getting my Bachelor's Degree so I can attend law school and get a job that will allow me to support my family in the manner they deserve. To do that as well as possible, then I need to live as long as possible. So I have to be successful in my weight loss and in my weight maintenance. These are the things that I think about when I work out, when I am having a meal, when I am driving down the road, when I have 5 spare minutes to reflect. Those thoughts make my journey a little easier on the hard days. If you haven't come up with some short term goals you hope to meet by losing weight, then I urge you; sit down, think of something that being overweight has limited you from doing that you really would love to be doing. Don't start off big. My first goal was to walk a mile without my back hurting me! That was two weeks in the making, and I felt great when I achieved it. Start off simple. Another trick I have used is to buy clothes at a resale shop that I cant' fit in. Then I work like hell to make them fit. And there is of course the one most are using already, the scale. However I do it different than most with regards to weighing. I weigh every second Friday. This does a couple of tings. First, it keeps me from driving myself crazy if my weight is not doing what I want. Second, if I keep my end of the bargain up, then the scale does its part and I see bigger gains than if I weight daily, every other day, or weekly. In the beginning, I was seeing 8 pounds lost every two weeks! Want to talk about motivating! I worked my ass off to see those number over and over cause it was addictive to see that big of reduction!

So if your new, or if you have lost your enthusiasm or any other difficulty you have reached, try using the goal as your motivation. I have actually added a new goal. I want to jog a full 5k at 5 miles an hour ASAP. When the weather lets up and it gets warm enough for me to get off the treadmill and on the pavement, I want to be ready!

Newbies, good luck in the third full week of 2011 and if I can be of any help, please feel free to contact me at jsg14342@cox.net. I will be glad to talk to you or listen either one!