Unlike a lot of people, I don't hate my bathroom scale. I have pet name for it, he's called Mr. Scale. Sometimes Mr. Scale has good news for me, by providing a "good" number but lately all the news has been unfit to print. I don't blame the scale because I see it as a neutral party in my quest for fitness, perhaps even rooting for me a little bit. "She needs a boost, I'll lighten up for her today," I imagine my scale thinking. But I really know it's just me, the food I eat and the exercise I don't get enough of.
I am really in the mood for excuses. I can be pretty hard core with myself but I want to be indulgent just this once. I'll list them:
- My dog hurt her knee so I stopped walking her (she's better now)
- My kids won't go to bed at night
- I get PMS and eat like crazed maniac
- Lunchtime meetings have crept in at work and I've missed my swims
- After one day calorie counting became boring so I stopped
Those are about the lamest excuses I could come up with! And I was really trying. But I read something recently that struck me so odd I'm working on a way to apply it to fitness. It was a quote from a success inspiration book that read, "to be successful, do something unpleasant every day." The premise is that performing a daily unpleasantness leads to self discipline, the very thing I seem to lack.
What an amazing idea! So much I read has to do with making diet and exercise comfortable for the afflicted. I realize now I've been guilty of the same thing. I've been focusing on making diet and exercise so enjoyable for myself I haven't made much progress.
The funny part of this idea is that it actually works. I think to myself, "I really don't want to clean these piles on my desk, or fold these clothes, or do these dishes, but it's unpleasant, so I will." And, to my utter amazement, I do! And then I laugh because it seems so ridiculous.
My next task will be to say, "I really don't want to avoid this cookie, or doughnut, or potato chip, but I will, because doing so will result in a less than satisfied feeling in my belly, and that is unpleasant." I have to link a book here today, written by Stephen Gullo. I read it a long time ago and I think this follows his basic message - to stop being so self indulgent and take responsibility for eating less.
