How Bad Do You Want It?

Interesting things I've noticed in the years I've been working on my fitness. But one key thing is that in order for you to ever get fit, you have to want it. And you have to want it bad enough to make the right changes to get it. Just like anything else in life. And if you don't really want it badly enough, you won't take the steps it takes to get there. Plain and simple.

I discovered that everyone has their own set point. Their own limits on how much they will handle or settle for. Thankfully my set point was a fairly low one, although it is based on vanity. It's not as important to know why you have a set point when you are trying to get started- as to figure out WHERE your set point is. Mine was to avoid having to shop in "Women's" sections of the department stores. For someone who is only 5'1", it was a big deal (to me) to have to try to find anything petite in anything larger than a large, when things start to look wider than they are tall. That was my set point- so when I was creeping up on 140, 145... and I saw that trend not coming back or slowing down, I freaked. That was my set point. My wake-up call. My ah-ha moment when I finally decided to either DO something, or I was going to go over the edge. Although it was not necessarily a dangerous edge... it was still MY edge.

Some people have their set point higher. They might not care to make a change until they have their first heart attack. Or find out they have diabetes due to obesity. Or have feet/knee problems due to the weight. Or maybe they fly for the first time in years, and realize that they no longer fit inside those airline seats. For others, on the other end of the spectrum, will stop eating because they are reaching triple digits on the scale. Whatever it is... something has to happen, something has to shock that set point before you will be moved into taking action and change what you are currently doing. As an RN, I'm scared for the ones who wait until they hit some major health issue before they realize just how unhealthy they are.

I also learned through my fitness journey that these set points also go away once you get the "condition" under control... and then it's SOOO easy to fall back onto old habits again because the shock is gone. The motivation is then gone as well. You have your heart attack, you strive to lose weight and get better- but then once you start to feel better, you "forget" and go back to old habits. I lose my weight and get back down to a "more acceptable" size range (for me)- and I get lazy again. I stop being as vigilant- and guess what... I slide back again, too. I see it happen all the time with the people I know. And it's not anyone's fault... that's just human nature.

So back to the question of How bad to you want it? The answer also includes the question of How LONG do you want it? That's when you have to make the mental shift and accept that this weight-loss journey is only temporary (til you lose the weight you want) but the FITNESS journey has to keep on going. You have to KEEP fit to maintain the weight loss you've achieved. You can't just relax and stop what you are doing just because you've reached your goal weight. Otherwise it will all come rolling back in all its jiggly ways. And more.

When you read that it's not about dieting, it's a "lifestyle change"... that's what that is. You can "diet" all day long and get to your weight loss goal, sure. But was it a lifestyle change? Something you can sustain for years and years to come- even once that set point is no longer looming at your front door?

I've found that this is the hard part in so many ways. I'm at the place where I'm comfortable- and it's sooo easy to just relax and go back to old (bad) habits. But then I've learned that it's a Lifestyle Change... it means keeping those new habits and living them for life. It's not "just so you can lose the weight" and then forget them. It's making those choices FOR LIFE, if you plan to be fit for life.

So how bad do you want it? If you're not ready, you're not ready. I've seen it... and there's nothing I or anyone can say or do that will make a change in someone else. As an RN, I know how the patient teaching sometimes goes in one ear and out the other. Until he or she hits that set point and finally decides that it's TIME. That's when the real change can happen. That's when the "sacrifices" aren't seen as sacrifices anymore, but just positive steps in reaching the goal. For life. You aren't 'giving up' this or that to get fit. You are getting rid of the health dangers to GET fit. To get your life back.

Are you ready? I'm around to help. I'm not "pushing Beachbody" so much as just offering it as a very real option. I've used the programs, so I know about them. I know what works. But if you find something else that works, that's GREAT! Just find what works- and stick with it! I just know Beachbody programs helped me by offering the structure I just couldn't create on my own. They have so many different programs for different fitness levels and activity styles. There really is something for everyone. Plus, by doing a workout at home, you don't have to schlep yourself to the gym- if the gym environment isn't something you enjoy. Yeah, the workout programs are expensive. But so is a gym membership. And if it's worth it to you, then it's worth it. And either one- is worth much more than medical bills to the cardiologist!

And the Beachbody web site comes with a load of info for the nutrition aspect with recipes and tips. Places to log your foods and calculate the numbers. There are hundreds of places online for that kind of thing- such as FitDay- but to figure out where you stand on your eating- I highly suggest tracking, measuring and logging your daily intake for at least several weeks. Do it "by hand" like I did, with my old nutrition textbook & a calculator, if you want! Just DO the tracking!! Sometimes you just don't know you're actually overeating when you are. Or to see just how MUCH more you are overeating- that might hit a set point shocker as well (I know it did for me, to realize that I ate over 3200 cals on some days in my "before"- when all I needed was 1600). Or to see that even if you are eating the right number of calories, you might not be eating enough protein to maintain healthy muscle mass, or still eating too much fat to lose weight. But until you track it... you just don't know.

I know Beachbody also has WOWY, the online gym where you can "meet up" with people you know and work out together, although you might live miles apart. You don't have to do it alone. Knowing that a friend might be in there waiting for you every morning, is actually quite motivating! In addition, Beachbody has message boards where you can find VERY inspirational success stories and photos of transformations. I often go there to browse whenever I find myself losing interest in fitness- and it fires me back up again. Also on the message boards, there are hundreds of people available for support. But find your support somewhere- anywhere. I know people who use SparkPeople & their message boards & challenges. I know of others with their own online groups or in-person communities. Just find a group so you're not doing this alone. But that WOWY thing? Only Beachbody has that. :-)

Getting fit is one thing. STAYING fit is another. But for both, you need the right tools and support. And when you're ready, I'm here to help, just ask.

My Beachbody web page, for finding me. :-)