How Better Days
Can Help Proceedings
Exactly how can better days help proceedings? All too often in life, we let ourselves slip and before we know it momentum is lost and life turns into nothing but debauchery. However, with a little focus and clear thinking, you can feel so much better in a short space of time.
Stopping The Rotting
Focused Clear Thinking
After recent woes and a bad run of form, I feel I’m getting something back. Better days are shining through. And this is critical for anybody attempting weight loss and lifestyle changes. Quite easy to do but only when you feel focused and committed. As is more often than usual in this scenario, the little things are making a massive difference. I feel I’m getting some of my mojo back. I’m living on willpower and determination at the moment.
The analysis on Weigh Day #21 helped massively. Admitting where I’d gone wrong and hampered progression. Went through matters over and over and over again. As I always stress, this is a lengthy journey, a long-haul flight and you may think you’re never going to arrive but you do eventually. And my new-found way of thinking has certainly helped me get through this sticky patch.
I Know It’s Not Over
These are just a few small steps but two whole days with minimal processed food and sugar are reaping benefits already. I’m attempting intermittent fasting again. It helps to stay focused. Although I broke the ‘fast’ as I consumed a healthy sugar-free slice of banana cake my colleague kindly gave me 2 hours outside my eating window. Fair play to those who do Ramadan year in, year out!
My feet need to stay firmly on the ground. I’m always a whisker away from cracking and caving. The temptations loom at work but when I get focused, I keep busy and blank such things out of my mind.
Helping Hands For Better Days
Everybody Needs Somebody…
I’m lucky to have a small network of people for support. This is critical for me. Good to have people to talk to and share experiences. Trying to change alone for most people is nigh on impossible. Or if not impossible, then certainly harder. We’re asked at the monthly More Life meeting to set goals for the month ahead. My goal stayed the same, to get under 120 kilos by the next meeting.
Bowie and the stairs!
The meeting was most useful and I identified small ways I can increase my step count without doing any extra exercise. For example, go up the stairs to the toilet when downstairs. And downstairs to the toilet when upstairs! Something, I’d never have thought of! I’m still sticking with my 10000 steps a day plan which is enough exercise. I found walking back from the Etihad Stadium on Saturday was a bit much! And could feel it Sunday. Which made it all the more sweeter that I didn’t crack!
What Difference…
Does Cutting Sugar & Alcohol Make?
Alcohol
I’d say it’s critical to success for me. They’re both so damn addictive. I’m lucky I can take or leave the booze but when I drink, I go way overboard and in hindsight, I know I can easily live without it. Whether for good, I don’t know the answer to that. I seem to go around three months maximum before folding in a haze of alcoholic debauchery! As I get older, the only place I feel like I truly enjoy alcohol is when somewhere hot on holiday. It doesn’t seem to affect me in the same way as at home.
I’ve been effectively banned from drinking at home by er indoors before we go out and I completely see why. I didn’t even have that many before Yard Act yet it was on an empty stomach and enough to make me slightly wobbly. Enough is enough, I have to face the realities of my relationship with alcohol. And it’s mostly not very good.
Sugar
The white (or brown!) stuff is not quite so easy to kick for me. However, having gone two days without and having done enough research to know what foodstuffs are laced with sugar, I am finding it easier. And it all goes back to the old chestnut of eating as much real food as possible. The less ingredients, the better. And having done that for only two days, the difference in how I feel has taken me aback. When your tastebuds return, you need to grab hold of that feeling with both hands! And stick it right in your mind.
Keep Going! Better Days Ahead!
Grabbing Positives
Whilst there are the inevitable side effects such as insomnia and a little lethargy here and then, I was gobsmacked at how much better I felt this morning. Often, a few home truths to yourself can spark a revival. Every day can become a better day by having more focus and sticking with basic plans.
Pressures Of Modern Life
We are embedded in a society fuelled by pressures. I find the best strategy is to rise above pressures and “do what you want to do” as my late, great mum used to frequently tell me. Those social pressures we have become very accustomed to, more often than not don’t fulfill life and leave you feeling drained. And in the weight loss game, can seriously damage proceedings. Approach everything in life with caution! And you will have better days.
Setting Goals For Better Days
This was pumped into us at the Zoom meeting and I agree that it’s important to set short-term realistic goals. But also, just as important to remember them and try and achieve them as best possible. This is one of many mistakes I made recently. After the February meeting, I only half-heartedly set my goals and never really thought about them too much. This time round, I’m determined to be under 120 kilos by the time of the next meeting in five weeks. But first the smaller goal of getting through a few better days to Weigh Day #22!
