I’m still thinking about the discussion yesterday from my post and comments about making things non-negotiable or “restrictive.” I’ve never done that with food, never really done a diet (Weight Watchers for four weeks doesn’t count in my head as a diet for when I did it) because I’ve always thought I would fail at it so why bother with the effort. This wasn’t even my thought, but people have always told me that being restrictive in food is too hard/ it just can’t be done. They warn, “Eventually you will stop and regain all the weight again!” These people remind me of the Christians that threaten non-believers with the fire and brimstone. If I go on a diet I will eventually meet an untimely end in donuts and potato chips because I will have to eat them one day when I finally cave! Yeah, that argument isn’t making much sense to me either.
I’m not saying right now that I plan on doing this. I’m just contemplating it for now. Food and my brain have such a terribly broken relationship that I am going to have to ponder this a bit further.
I want to share the quote that Sophy shared yesterday:
“What are you committed to in your life? Waking up with the sun? Meditating in the morning? Exercising daily? No longer lashing out at your family? Removing refined sugars/red meat/etc. from your diet?
Whatever it is, check in and see how committed you REALLY are.
And, know this: 99% is a bitch. 100% is a breeze.
Let’s say you decide that meditating EVERY day will be your new ritual. You’ve done the research, see the benefits and decide to go for it. (Good decision, btw.) Now, if you have to think about whether or not you’re going to honor that commitment every day, there’s NO way you’re going to honor it. IM-POSS-UH-BLE.
You’re gonna have that little whiney voice pop in that says something along the lines of: “Oh! You deserve a little more sleep this morning. Plus, it’s just a day. You deserve a day off. And those peeps who are so committed are way too rigid anyway. Relax. Be flexible.”
So, figure out what daily practices define your destiny and then make your commitments to those rituals NON-NEGOTIABLE. Period. (Make that an exclamation point.
Seriously. Try it out. It may sound harsh but it’s REALLY liberating. Frees up so much energy when you don’t need to think about whether today’s the day you’ll break. :)”
I did decide one thing yesterday about making things non-negotiable.
EXERCISE is a non-negotiable.
For me it is something I have to do to stay healthy. And my “workout 3x a week” just isn’t cutting it. It is too easy for me to not plan to go certain days. I will say on Monday that I need to workout but then remember a tv show I want to watch during my workout time and suddenly it is Friday and I’ve haven’t worked out for the week. In that kind of situation I am still thinking in my head “I need to workout 3 times this week! Good thing there are three days left!” Maybe I workout all three days. Maybe I don’t.
So daily exercise is now my first non-negotiable. I can no longer talk myself out of it because it has to happen. I will no longer have to spend the half hour or so arguing with myself trying to decide if I really want to go to the gym that day. I won’t be wasting time thinking about whether I should go today or just wait until tomorrow. I just have to do it. Daily exercise is non-negotiable!!
I think that is an excellent non-negotiable. Yesterday was the first day in many moons that I didn’t exercise at ALL and I felt terrible. I snapped at my family, was moody, and it became incredibly clear to me that I have come to a point where NOT exercising feels 100x worse than exercising. It feels good. I am sure that you will feel great with this new “habit” in place. The thing is, it doesn’t always have to be some huge kick-ass exercise. A beautiful walk will do as well. Sometimes we want to kick ass and sometimes we want to take in the scenery.
Foodie McBody’s last blog post..Feeling Healthily Competitive? Join Me In This Challenge!
PS. Can I be on your blog roll? :-)
Foodie McBody’s last blog post..Feeling Healthily Competitive? Join Me In This Challenge!
I like that and will now adopt a similar policy!
Fat[free]Me’s last blog post..Weigh-in Wednesday – Onederland!
That happened with me too when my goal was 3 times a week. Now my goal is to exercise 5 times a week. Plus I try to exercise in ways that I really enjoy like swimming and biking. My non-negotiables are: no trans fats, no preservatives, no artificial colors, no sulfites or sulfates, no beef, and to eat organic whenever possible. People don’t always realize that organic food not only has no pesticides, but are grown in mineral rich soil which makes the food healthier and of course is better for the Earth.
@Foodie
I thought I added you already. Guess I forgot!
@Fat[free]Me
Let’s do it!
@Smilingmommy2
That is awesome. I really would love to go organic, but the organic food costs a little too much for me right now. Once I start making more moola maybe I will go that way.
That is such an insightful post! And exercise is a good place to start. You’re right, we can’t afford to be wishy washy about this anymore… We’re just making fools of ourselves. WTG!
Hanlie’s last blog post..A new way of thinking & a stunning haircut
@Hanlie
Ouch, hadn’t thought about looking like a fool. I suppose I am.
Hi there.. I wanted to thank you for the comment. It’s nice to see new faces around my place. I totally agree with you about the exercise. it is a very important part of getting and staying healthy and I know I love it and make it a number 1 priority in my life. For me it is also a non-negotiable part of my journey. It’s nice to see others realizing it as well. It seems like some people think th opposite, but then again it is their choice. Have a great day and hope to have you stop by again.
Rob’s last blog post..Wednesdays Cardio workout 5/27/2009
Gaaaaaaaaahhhh, Sophy just put me in my place, fo’ reals.
I think this just goes to show that the mental side of the weight loss journey is by far and away the most important. Get that in line, and eating right and working out hard will fall in line. But if your heart’s not in it, then nutrition and exercise will continue to be a struggle.
I’m basically the perfect example for this – when I was going 100% last year, I lost 100 pounds in one month. This year, I’ve been lazy and coasted my way through 10-15 tops.
Time for that bullsh*t to change.
Will
4xlt.WillPhillips.org
Will (4xlt)’s last blog post..21 Days to Prove It to Myself
Great post! I have to remember that. Exercise is non-negotiable!!!!
maryfran’s last blog post..The fragility of health
@Will
Uh, 100 lbs in a month??
Great post! I think I will make exercise non-negotiable as well. I have been doing the same thing and just not ever getting to X number of times a week….I will now, because that makes total sense!
Liz’s last blog post..Feelin’ Good
it is for me as well and I hadnt really thought about it in these terms until your post.
I cling to my exercise 30 mites for all the wrong reasons these days (its my ToddlerFreeTime :)) but nonnegotiable it is none the less.
Miz’s last blog post..The Biggest Loser: A commentary by Sal Marinello
Non-negotiable. Different things work for different people and this might be just how you need to look at it. For me, it would mean certain failure because I can’t take the pressure of perfection. I like to think about it as a lifestyle that continues tomorrow even if I wasn’t perfect the day before. For me, it’s really working. I know Jillian Michaels says that exercise should be just like brushing your teeth. I think she’s right, but if I did forget to brush (eew!) I’d just brush them later on in the day (hopefully) or the next day because brushing my teeth is part of my lifestyle.
selma’s last blog post..Running Through the Pain
@Selma
If that mindset works for you then GO FOR IT! We all just have to figure out what works for us specifically. The labels don’t necessary matter, either. Maybe some of us call daily exercise non-negotiable (oo sounds scary) or maybe we call it EscapeOurToddlerTime (hahaha Miz). Maybe we can’t fathom the thought of daily forcing ourselves to exercise. That is okay too. It is about what works for YOU. For me, it works better to make it daily and can’tskipEVER. That is just me though. :)