DAY 89 Consistency & Flying Cats

It looks like I am a broken record, still on the subject of CONSISTENCY. Today I ran across some old notes I had kept from a past season of Biggest Loser. Here is part of it:

"You have to be consistent.  No matter how much the show changes from season to season, one thing is clear. Those who lose the biggest are consistent. They make healthy eating and exercise part of their daily lives--even after they go home. And even when they encounter setbacks along the way, they don't give up.

Lesson: Consistency is the KEY. No matter how close (or far) you are from your goal--or even if you're there already--the habits you learn along the way have to continue if you're to be successful in the long term."

Yesterday I was writing about consistency, and received a great comment from Mary/Antgirl at Chronicles of Meps'

Reconstruction. She said:

"Excellent post. You have really done your homework, Loretta.

Can I suggest adding one thing to this mix? Figure out how to change up 'the sacrifice' so that you are not thinking of it as something you're giving up. Why? It's totally a mental thing. We want what we tell ourselves what we can't have. We mourn and feel deprived. If you can spin that differently, so you don't see it as a sacrifice, you will find consistency much easier to stick.

Ie, that I have a choice as to what and how I eat is a blessing, something I am truly grateful for. There are so many people on this planet who do not and would envy my dilemma. 

That was one. Secondly, I took my passion for the observatory and writing and tapped into it for healthy eating and exercise. I talked myself into seeing the right choices as the indulgence and the pampering. I also literally say *yuck* when I go through the bakery for my bread. That one takes awhile to sink in ... LOL "

I think the reason that I appreciate this comment so much is that it gives me a sense of how my post came across, through different eyes.  Seeing as how I totally agree with Mary, I had to go back and re-read my post, to see where I had mentioned making sacrifices. Hmmmm.... didn't find it. As I thought about it, I figured out that I didn't make it clear enough that I look at it as sort of like buying something at a store... making a purchase, paying the price for that great thing I really want. Not a negative, but a positive.

I think the trade off--that of being consistent in order to obtain the goal--is TOTALLY a great bargain, with me being the winner. :-)

Thank you, Mary, for the feedback! I appreciate it very much.

I have several "affirmation" cards that I read daily. One of them is on Consistency. For fun, I scanned it in to show it here:

In my mind's eye, I visualize the benefits of doing those things I need to do in order to reach my goal. I try to connect it to positive, happy and healthy feelings. I am not there yet, but am determined to keep at it, making progress.

I like the saying "It's all mental." Because our attitude can make or break us. I want mine to HELP me on this journey. 

From Dr Phil's book: "...and don't do it halfway."

My verse for today: "God sends his love and his faithfulness."

My quote for today: "It's not just about the size of your body, it's mostly about the size of your heart. You have to give it everything you have every single day."--Alison, from the Biggest Loser, Nov 08

Enjoy the Journey,

Loretta

=^..^=