School or Weight Loss – Is There a Difference?

School or Weight Loss – Is There a Difference?

Time after time, I hear people make inquiries about how to lose weight quickly with true desperation and urgency in their words. I, too, must confess there was a time when I engaged in that behavior as well and I am left to ponder where this “quick fix” mentality comes from.

Perhaps it comes from the fast paced world we live in with drive through restaurants, cleaners, coffee houses and convenience stores. Maybe it is the short term thought process that tells us, “I want it now” or “I deserve it now.” However, isn’t this the same flawed thought process that allowed us to devour the food at hand without regard for the consequences? Or, perhaps it happens in those fleeting moments when we raise our head from the sand and realize the shape we’re in. During those times, I believe we so desperately want to change that we look valiantly for a miracle cure to rescue us. READ MORE...

Let’s stop and think a moment and take a look at the reality of the situation. Why is it we would expect, or even believe it is possible, to fix something overnight that took many months or a lifetime to obtain? Do we implement this thought process in any other avenue of our life? An analogy came to mind that I hope will help us gain some perspective.

Let’s say you enter college with the purpose of obtaining a Bachelor’s degree. It is a two-year program and we understand it is going to take two years to accomplish it. We get our class schedule, show up for class and understand we have homework. If we fail to participate in class or do the assigned homework, we realize our progress will be hampered and we will not achieve the highest marks possible. Each week we go to class, learn a few chapters, patiently and thankfully. Then, we move forward slowly, steadfastly and with determination that in two years we will earn a degree.

So, let’s apply the “quick fix” philosophy to this scenario. Can you imagine trying to accomplish this in a few months, like we are hoping to find a way to lose weight quickly? Would we really take all the books that we read in the course of those two years and expect to read them and digest their contents in a few months? And, if someone told you it was possible to achieve your degree in two months, would you believe it was possible or would you know that it was a flim-flam salesperson trying to pull the wool over your eyes?

If you think it is silly and unrealistic to earn a degree in two months, it is just as silly and unrealistic to believe we can lose weight that way as well.

Now, let’s apply the school philosophy to that of weight loss and make a workable plan of action.

- Enter weight loss knowing it is going to take time and there is no “quick fix” that is reasonable.

- Relax and take each day at a time, realizing that each day is a stepping-stone to the next and that a series of stepping-stones builds the path to your goal.

- Go to class, show up for class and realize you have homework. Learn new habits, new recipes and new thought processes. Be an active participant in learning and show up for exercise. Search new information, learn nutrition and find online support; it is part of your homework.

- Understand that if you do not participate in healthier eating or moderate exercise, your progress will be hampered and the results you are anticipating will be slower in arriving.

- Learn to take baby steps; make small changes. Each change, just like knowledge, builds upon each other. A series of small changes turns into a large change and a series of large changes turns into successfully achieving your goals.

- Take each day as it comes and stop obsessing about a “quick fix.” You don’t go to school each day and fret about the degree that is out in the future; don’t do that with your weight loss journey either. Enjoy the days, the lessons and the friendships along the way.

- Avoid the mindset and “quick fix” advertisements; they are like the claims of a used car salesman. Hard work pays off in results and they are attainable with effort and determination.

Very best wishes as you move forward in your journey. You can earn a diploma and achieve top honors in your weight loss and lifestyle adventure.

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Part 2 of the series entitled “The Deprivation Mindset” has been published. As promised here is the link ; it is well worth the read.

Other articles of interest:

Remembering Baby Steps

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