*Mahomet Curves purchases advertising space on the sidebar of the Mahomet Daily. My decision to workout at and talk about my experiences at Mahomet Curves was not influenced by the advertisement on the Mahomet Daily. Instead, I chose to make a decision for my body and to be with my friend, Jan Smith, owner of Mahomet Curves because I trust her. In no way is this content promoted by or scripted by Mahomet Curves or the Curves organization.
I have a two-step program. Number one: Identify the Problem. Number Two: Fix it.
Obviously there are more steps to the process, but, it is my opinion that the first step matters the most. Sure the end goal matters. Say you want to lose 10 pounds. It’s great to reach that goal, but without that first step, without actually taking action, the goal will never become a reality. It will just be a hope or a wish or a dream. Without that first step, nothing will ever happen.
For me, the first step isn’t going to the gym or not drinking Pepsi or eating better. For me, the first step is saying, “Here is the problem.”
If your life is anything like mine (and I’m positive our lives are actually very similar), then you’ve got many problems. Let me just go through a few of mine: I’m overweight. I’ve got debt that strangles me. My house is constantly a mess-not just the kind where you have to vacuum the floor or wash the dishes-yes, it is that kind of messy-but I also have many, many construction projects that are just waiting for my attention. I run a business, a publication and am a marketing consultant. I have three kids. I can’t balance anything in my life appropriately. I’ve got problems.
When I wrote last week, I identified a problem. It was my first step to fixing the problem. I’ve told you for several weeks that I eat out a lot. But it wasn’t until last week that I realized the reason I eat out a lot is because it’s easier than cooking. It’s easier than planning and buying and preparing and cooking and cleaning up. It’s a time when I can connect with other people and not have to worry about everything else.
But eating out all the time adds to my weight and my debt. Do I think eating out is bad? Nope. Sure don’t. But remember, I have a problem with balance. I really am an all or nothing kind of girl. And usually I choose the all. I choose to be all in. I choose to show all love. I choose to go all out. I usually choose all.
Honestly, sometimes the all hurts me.
But this week, the all has really benefited me. Once I realized why I like to eat out so much, I decided to fix why I like to eat out so much. I don’t like complicated things. I’m a simple girl. I told myself I would not eat out this week-all in. I like to share food with people, so my person said she would eat with me. We have a problem with portion control, so, we said that we would share the food. “Half the calories, half the size.” And we decided to keep our food very simple.
We’ve made some fresh pesto with shrimp and protein packed pasta. Or salmon fillets with asparagus and rosemary. These types of dishes don’t take long to make, have little cleanup and keep me full until the next meal. So, I haven’t eaten out this week. I’ve enjoyed quiet, quaint, delicious and nutritious meals at home.
I’ve felt lighter, more focused and had more energy than, honestly, ever before. But it’s only because I recognized the problem. THAT is always my first step. Sure, making the decision to go through the long, messy process it will take to get the results I want is important. And I will celebrate when all these little changes I’m making will come together for the results I want.
That’s where we lose sight of so many really important things-we want results NOW. We want perfection NOW. But I’m more interested in the process of peeling away the layers as we work to get the results we want. So, I only need two steps. Recognize the problem. Fix it.
I’ve learned one more thing this week. On Saturday I worked out for an hour and a half because we were running a “Workout with Dani” special at Mahomet Curves. I hadn’t worked out much that week because I was busy with my own work, so I really wasn’t looking forward to that time. But, I did it. I worked out for an hour and a half.
My body is capable of so much more than I give it credit for. I can do so much more. So. Let’s see what’s next…
