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I’m starting a new series here on Simple Nourished Living.
I’m calling it Food For Thought.
After decades of working to find my personal recipe for weight loss success and studying countless others, I’ve come to know that what we eat is only one small piece of the puzzle.
Which is why I’m so excited to begin sharing some of my thoughts and experiences with you in these short videos.
I hope they help you achieve the success you deserve!
We must stop thinking about what we cannot do and begin to do what we can do. ~ Joyce Meyer
I had a thought while walking this morning that I wanted to share…
Food For Thought Video: Let Go of the Need for Perfection
I think when we are trying to lose weight or achieve some other goal, we mistakenly believe we have to be perfect.
We think about all the things we cannot do.
But I somehow manage to be successful maintaining my active WW lifetime status and staying at or under goal, without ever being perfect.
Far from it.
I don’t think there’s ever a day when I don’t stray in one way or another.
I don’t get enough exercise and drink more (wine) than the “experts” say I should.
Sometimes I eat too fast and have been known to get carried away “tasting” while getting dinner ready.
I have a weakness for chips, ice cream and pizza, and go weeks without working up a serious sweat.
I stumble regularly. Often I fall.
But what makes me successful is that after I stumble or fall, I get back up.
Related: 3 Reasons Smart People Struggle with Weight Loss
I hit the re-set and adjust.
I don’t beat myself up or tell myself I’ll get back on track next week or next month.
Instead of worrying about what I can’t do, I’ve learned to focus on what I can do…
- a glass of water before the snack
- a 10-minute walk
- a few deep breaths when I’m feeling stressed
- going to bed early when I’m tired
- eating a lighter dinner when I’ve indulged at lunch
- a sliver of cake, not a huge hunk
Little things, especially when added together, can be enough.
Focus on doing what you can instead of what you can’t.
And prepare to be amazed at the difference it makes in your success!
Need a motivational quote to serve as your mantra? Click here to find a motivational quote for every day of the year!
P.S. Little things mean a lot. In fact the right small changes have the potential to deliver huge results and are way less overwhelming than trying to reboot your entire life all at once. Exactly what my 28-Day Smart Start is all about!
Thank you for your wise words and encouragement! I started WW in January (my 2nd time to join since 2007). I’m 3 lbs from reaching my goal weight and I totally over indulged yesterday. So your post was very timely for me. I’m back on track today and already feeling good about myself already. One day at a time!
JoAnn, Good for you! Please know I am here behind my computer screen cheering for you!! ~Martha
Thank you for those words of wisdom. It is so easy to feel defeated when we eat more or move less than we should.
Amen.
Perfectionaism has been my downfall for too many years. I used to wait for Mondays to start afresh. At some point, I realized each day I can start over (I love the “blue dots” you can earn online now)
I think WW maturity….true “lifetime” mentality….will come when I can convince myself that each MOMENT, each BITE, is an opportunity to recover from a bad choice. The apple pie that I overindulged in yesterday was not one bad decision, but each bite was a new decision and I could have stopped before any one forkful……Life is full of little “a-ha” moments, isn’t it?
So true Karen! It’s a journey of slow and steady changes. Each moment is a new opportunity to make different choices.
At age 73, after dieting for nearly 40 years, I finally got it through my head that perfection is not the key to success! I would even try to make my food journal perfect even though I was the only one who would see it!!
Don’t know how or why I suddenly realized that perfectionism wasn’t working but when I watched your video, I realized that I was feeling just the way you, a successful loser and maintainer, were feeling and what a relief that was!
Even without fully realizing it, I seem to have come to the same conclusion that you spoke of and am so grateful that you helped me to internalize that conclusion.
By the way, since the beginning of the year ,I’ve lost 30 !bs. and now, thanks to your very timely message, have something concrete to remember as I lose the 10 lbs. to go to reach my goal.
Thank you for the inspiration and the reality check!!
You are most welcome Debra! Glad to help!