If the first plan which you adopt does not work successfully, replace it with a new plan; if this new plan fails to work, replace it in turn with still another, and so on, until you find a plan which does work. Right here is the point at which the majority of men meet failure, because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those whose fail. … No man is ever whipped, until he quits — in his own mind.
Napoleon Hill. Think and Grow Rich
I have had a recent set-back in my Groundhog Resolution plans. There is a reason I am not a garage door repairman. I hurt my finger pretty good while repairing the garage door opener motor. My painful experience put a big cut in my Pick and commit a time to exercise 10 minutes a day plan. Don’t worry though, The doctor says I’ll be okay and everything will return to normal with time.
In my persistence for fitness, I am required to find a plan that works for me and you for that matter. We must keep trying and trying until we hit the mix of exercise and healthy eating that’s proper for our individual bodies.
So, a new plan?
Sacrifice: an act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy as defined by Apple Computer Leopard’s Dictionary.
Sacrifice
I’ve talked a bit about different motivations for fitness. We all are unique, and consequently we have to find what will motivate ourselves. Weight Loss and Fitness is as much as a physical battle as it is a mental battle. Re-thinking old habits and building new healthy habits takes time, persistence, and motivation. Sometimes, we need a little extra help with motivation and our sacrifice to fitness.
- By giving up eating too many calories, we can achieve a healthier body.
- By giving up sleeping an extra 30 minutes in the morning, we can exercise and achieve a physical fit body.
- By giving up unhealthy habits, we can create healthy habits.
We must give up and sacrifice in order to create new.
Now when I hear sacrifice, I usually think Religion.
Most religions require some sacrifice during your religious calendar. Jews have Yom Kippur, Muslims have Ramadan, and Christians have Lent. Each is a time to fast and atone for sins and a way to teach patience, sacrifice and humility. These Religious periods offer a perfect time for those motivated by God to offer up healthful-based sacrifices.
If you have Faith, make a promise to God to abstain from sugary sweets, chocolate, alcohol, French Fries, Coca Cola, or other unhealthy habits. I think that would be one promise you’d want to keep. No on wants to make God unhappy with broken promises.
If you don’t have Faith, then make a promise to your most motivating best friend to abstain from some unhealthy habit.
Back Story
Lenten Sacrifice is exactly how I gave up drinking Coca Cola. I used to drink almost a two liter of Pop (Coke, Dr. Pepper, Mountain Dew, etc…) a day. I decided during lent of 2001, that I would give up Pop as a sacrifice to God. After 40 days abstaining from Coke, I decided to see how long I could go. It is now 2009, and I have about two cans of pop (usually Sprite or 7-up) a year and no Coca Cola.
So, I suggest you and I use the next 40 days to focus on eating habits.
What can you sacrifice that is valued in your diet that may be unhealthy? Is it Starbucks Coffees? is it French Fries? Is it Candy? Is it Alcohol? Make a promise to the most important person in your life, possibly God for some of you readers, that you will abstain from that unhealthy eating vice.
Let’s Review:
- Who’s the most important person/entity in your life now?
- God, Spouse, Best Friend
- What are the unhealthy items in your life/diet?
- Make a promise to sacrifice your unhealthy vice for the next 40 days to your most important person.
Hmm, let me think, What are the some things I commonly over-indulge in lately?
- Peanut M&M’s
- French Fries
- Ice Cream
- Brownies, Cakes, Cookies
- Starbucks Hot Chocolates
- Fast Food
I guess there is no rule that says, I can’t cut them all out.