If you want to lose weight - focus on your habits
I stated in my week 10 results that I was going to make losing weight my number one priority this week. Turns out that might not be the best long term approach to losing weight. I know, that sounds contradictory, but let me explain.
I went to lunch today with my coach. This is the first time I have seen her face to face since she started coaching me at the beginning of the year, as she lives in Arizona. She asked for a general update on how things were going. I naturally focused my attention on the fact that my weight was up and I needed to do something about it this week. She said that she wasn’t in favor of that approach. Her insight - the problem with diets is that your attention is on losing weight.
Her point was that the primary habit people need to change surrounding their health and fitness is their attitude about themselves. Most fit, healthy people think of themselves as fit, healthy people. Most athletes think of themselves as athletes. If you focus on losing weight, then you think of yourself as an overweight person. NOT GOOD - at least if your goal is to not be overweight. Human beings are really good at winning whatever game they are playing. If you think of yourself as an overweight person, then you are probably going to win at the game of being overweight. If you think of yourself as an athlete, then you’ll also probably win at that game.
Her words reminded me of a friend who had just successfully quit smoking. He had tried many times before without success. I asked him what was different this time, and his answer was subtle, but powerful. He said that in the times he had failed, he thought of himself as an ex-smoker. The time he was successful, he focused on thinking of himself as a non-smoker. The difference seems small, but the results speak for themselves.
As I thought about our conversation, it reminded me of the first thing she told me when she started coaching me. Her number one piece of advice was to start thinking of myself as an athlete again - then exercise and eat consistent with being an athlete. I obviously missed what she was saying at the time, but now I get it. I’ll never be healthy and fit if I keep thinking about myself as overweight and unhealthy. I need to change my point of view; start acting consistent with the new point of view; and that will lead to a life long change.
So, what are the habits that are consistent with me being a healthy, fit, athlete? They are fairly simple:
- Think and act consistent with being a healthy, fit, athlete
- Eat oatmeal for breakfast
- Don’t eat within two hours of bedtime
- Exercise daily
It’s interesting. I was looking to make draconian changes in my diet this week, when in fact it’s my exercise habits that have changed the most in the last three weeks. I started the year exercising 40 days in a row, then I was feeling burned out so I added days off. Immediately I went back to my old habit of good, quality workouts only 3 or 4 days a week. And that’s not enough exercise for me to achieve the goals I want to achieve.
While I know over training can be an issue, it’s not my primary problem. I am conservative by nature. I tend to be cautious, and in exercise that translates into holding a little something back. My problem isn’t that I can’t back off when needed. My problem is that I’m rarely working out hard enough to warrant backing off. And, on those occasions when I do need to back off, I have no problem slowing down or modifying what I’m doing.
So the coaching for me is to get back to focusing on doing something every day. If I am tired, then ease up on the workout or do something like walking, which is more active recovery. When I’m not tired, then go for it.
I don’t know what the right specific habits are for you, but I do believe the process is the same for all of us. Start thinking and acting consistent with who you want to be and stay focused on whatever those habits happen to be.
I’m a lean, mean, cycling machine - who happens to be in training for the Bloomsday run.
Filed under: 2007 Resolutions, Goals, Uncategorized, Weight Loss, fitness, fitness over forty, high blood pressure, male over forty, over forty
|
Digg! this story.
|
Leave a Comment
Walked with Bo
Workout:
- Type: Walk
- Date: 03/12/2007
- Total Time: 00:30:00.00
- Distance: 2 miles
- Average Pace: 15:00/mile
Filed under: 2007 Resolutions, Goals, Uncategorized, Walking, Workout, fitness, fitness over forty, male over forty, over forty
|
Digg! this story.
|
Leave a Comment
