Future (Re)Focused

I am a planner. I am very future focused. I am always thinking three steps ahead of the game. I continually contemplate my next big move, my next paycheck, my next task to complete, etc. Even today, I am already thinking about my kids' birthday party tomorrow. Now, there is nothing wrong with forward thinking. In fact, it is a necessary part of leading a productive life. I am starting to realize, however, that constantly gazing into the future is not such a good thing. I am realizing how much I take for granted and how much enjoyment I forfeit as a result of my being so driven by the future.

Perhaps this is one of reasons why weight loss is so difficult. Most of us trying to get our weight down are very focused on the end result--fitting into a certain dress size, no longer having to take a certain medication, looking good at a high school reunion and the list could go on and on. Having a clear goal in my is a good thing. It is what keeps us motivated...right? I am starting to believe that sometimes the opposite is true.

As with anything in life, weight loss is a process. It is murky, messy, full of ups and downs. There are plenty of times when the end goal seems so far off and near impossible. The one or two pounds lost seem trivial and the intense efforts seem pointless in light of the ultimate goal. Instead of being a motivator, your focus on the end result becomes your biggest hurdle.

But what if the ultimate goal was simply to enjoy the journey, to savor it ounce by ounce? What if weight loss was more about learning and growing in self-knowledge and self-appreciation? I have decided to re-focus! Of course, I still have a goal for how much I want to loose and what I want to be able to do as a result of loosing weight. But, that is no longer my central focus. I am freeing myself from yet another weight--the weight of focusing on the future at the expense of enjoying the present. In doing so, I believe that I will be once again "on my weigh"

I've Been Thinking...

Lately I have been doing some thinking...about my thinking. Anyone who knows me knows that I love to think. In fact, my favorite thing is to be alone with my thoughts. To me my mind is my greatest asset. But as I have been thinking about my thinking I have noticed a big problem.

This morning when I woke up, all I could think about was what I needed to do for the kids, for work, for my research. I was thinking about Hubby and all that he needs and wants. I then started thinking about household issues--bills and projects and such. I also thought about my students and whether they would be prepared for today's exam. By the time I took a mental break, I thought about how I had taken no time today to think about my personal goal of loosing weight!

Immediately, I tried to think about how I could have possibly not thought about something that is so important. Then, I thought about how this was always the case when it comes to me thinking about me. I always seem to think about me last! And by the time I start thinking about me, I am too tired to even think about all I need to be thinking about. So, I think to myself, "I will definitely think about me first thing in the morning". But, yup you guessed it, when I wake up all I can do is think of everything but me.

As you can see, the problem is that I let so many things stand in the way of my weight loss goals. Even something as simple as thinking has become a barrier! Thankfully, I have realized that there is a problem. After all, admission is the first step to recovery. So, I am deciding today to keep my goal of weight loss at the forefront of my mind. That means I will spend a little less time obsessing about the needs of others, contemplating work and home responsibilities, and much less time dwelling on unimportant thoughts that only weigh down my mind.

Don't get me wrong, I will still be doing a lot of thinking. I will just be thinking more about what I need to do to reach my goal. By making this small but significant change, I am sure I will be well "on my weigh"!

Dropping the Weight(s)

I recently decided that it is time for me to loose weight. I am done having kids, my career has taken off and my marriage is stronger than ever. I finally have some time to focus on me! But, like most of you trying to weigh less, I have realized that this is no easy task. I have realized that loosing weight is so much more than pounds and inches. It is about getting rid of all the things in life that keep you feeling heavy--things like being a guilty mom, dwelling on the past, worrying about the future, not getting enough sleep, and wasting too much time on fruitless endeavors.

So here I am on may way...or shall I say "on my weigh" to a better life. One where I am focused on and driven by only the things that matter the most--faith, family, health and happiness! For me, loosing the weight is directly tied to what is important. I want to exercise my faith in God to help me conquer these areas of my life. I want to be more available to my family. I want to lead a healthier life--physically and otherwise. Accomplishing all of this will make me an even happier me.

In this blog I will be sharing my weight loss journey. I will share my ups and downs and the insight I gain along the way. In terms of my physical weight loss, my goals are simple. I would like to lose 30 lbs. by Christmas. I will exercise at least 20 minutes daily and I will change my eating lifestyle. As for the other weights in my life, I want to conquer them by keeping all things in perspective. This is the not so simple part! But with my faith in God, the love and support of family, friends and blog followers I know I can do it!