This post is about making commitments resulting in successful outcomes.
I've been struggling with my weight for a couple years now. The last time I stepped on the scales I was at 252 lbs. which is near an all-time high for me. I've been teetering at that weight for at least a year now. What changes have I made to reduce that weight? Obviously none. I've tried a few short term approaches like increasing exercise or eating healthier, each with little or short term success.
A couple weeks ago my naturopath asked me what the driving force was that helped me to be successful when I had acid reflux (gerd)? My quick response was "pain". I was in pain, I was scared that I would be in pain for the rest of my life. Almost immediately when I became vegetarian and then vegan I noticed relief from pain. That noticeable success helped me to commit to eating better.
Back then, I was committed to eating a vegan diet to cure my acid reflux but it did nothing for weight loss. In May of 2011 I hired a Holistic Health Counselor (http://vtpathfinder.blogspot.com/2011/05/holistic-health-counselor.html). Together we developed strategies and she held me accountable. Through her I was able to lose the desired weight.
There is no reason that any of us cannot do this on our own. The internet is filled with information from exercise routines, healthy recipes, diet plans, food journals, etc.. I myself have found success through Weight Watchers, The Atkins Diet and a Holistic Health Coach. At one time I even posted online recipes for my Weight Watchers plan adhering to vegan recipes.
What's missing? Commitment.
In the past I have been good about committing to certain things. Becoming vegan was a choice. It was not absolutely necessary to become a vegan to beat acid reflux, but it was a commitment I wanted to make. My naturopath had concerns at first because many vegans do not eat a healthy diet; I mean Fritos are vegan. I convinced her with my dedication to cooking healthy, nutritious meals and snacks on a weekly basis. Being vegan also made it easy for me to say "no" to foods that have little or no nutritional value; the weekly cakes, cookies or donuts at work, fast food, and pizza, just to name a few.
For several years I've had few health issues. I became sloppy with my diet. I've been eating cakes and cookies, along with cheese, crackers, chips, ice cream, pizza and whatever else people put in front of me. I started drinking beer again on a regular basis and I have let myself become lethargic, back to my "weekend warrior" routine where I exercise only one or two days a week. It's easy to fall into these traps and they are comfortable.
Two weeks ago my naturopath challenged me to make a 4 week commitment of my choosing. It was up to me to lay the groundwork for these commitments and she would touch base with me each week to see how I am doing. Well, the first week goes by and she doesn't hear from me. At the end of the second week she sends me an email, "Just a reminder that I look forward to receiving a nutritional plan of your making that you will be committing to for the four weeks of your choosing." I attempted to placate her by responding with some non-committal things I am doing. She responded, "As we include more and more with compassion and curiosity what commitments are you willing to experiment with? Again this is an agreement to experiment for 4 weeks...not forever. What if it didn't take a crisis or a health issue to make different choices? Get curious about calling forth that part of you in which cutting back on sugar and eliminating processed food wasn't a problem." I am up for the challenge!
Here are my commitments going forth the next few weeks.
1. Abstain from alcohol until I lose weight and feel better.
2.
Not buying chocolate until my birthday (This is something I
use to do on a regular basis). This does not include homemade smoothies
or treats with cacao in them.What can you commit to?