“All things are easy that are done willingly.” – Proverb Losing 40 pounds would put Teresa in the “normal” weight range – but she is extremely attached to her food choices as a way of life. She’s a self-proclaimed cheeseburger-and-fries kind of gal. Yet, she showed up at the diet group ready to make a change. Her first accomplishment was to give up soda. This was no small matter – and neither were the results. This single act produced a twelve-pound weight loss in the first year. The diet support group was constantly giving her accolades for her achievement. Finally, although she was proud of her accomplishment, it was time to move on. She stated, “I’m getting a bruise from the repeated pats on the back.” And then, miracle of miracles, she introduced an occasional salad. When she joined, I honestly didn’t think Teresa would last a month in the diet group. She is a woman set in her ways. But Teresa has reframed dieting for me and the other members of the group. Teresa is in it for the long haul. Her steps may be small steps, but they are movements in the right direction. Teresa doesn’t count calories or fat. Teresa doesn’t keep a journal. Teresa doesn’t exercise, except to walk her dog. Teresa does not do what she could do; nor what she should do. Teresa recognizes what she is willing to do, and then she does it. Teresa surprised us last week. She announced she was going to join a gym. She is planning a 30-minute workout three times a week. She is ready. She is willing. But will she stick with it? Will she lose weight or improve her health? Teresa’s history tells us that she will have some starts and stops as she adapts to something new in her routine – but that in the course of the year, the dust will have settled and her workout will have become a habit. We all have a lot to learn from Teresa about the balance between knowing ourselves, accepting ourselves and still moving toward positive changes in our lives. A slow but determined pace is the answer for Teresa. That doesn’t mean it is the answer for everyone. Some people may be, at certain times, really motivated and want to have faster results. We are individuals with different personalities, motivations and circumstances. You need to learn to evaluate your own “willingness level.” Take 15 minutes every week to make a written plan supporting a healthy diet and lifestyle. Then ask yourself, “On a scale of one to ten, what is my willingness level for carrying out this plan?” If your willingness level is not above a five, you may need to scale back and be more realistic. If the plan has no new components and is fairly routine, a six or seven is probably fine. If you are introducing something with a considerable learning curve, or that you will have to work to squeeze into your schedule, your willingness level needs to be at an eight or above. If it is not, you either need to determine how to raise the level (i.e. get more motivated), or cut back on your self-expectations. This approach will help you determine a plan that you can realistically follow. Carrying through with your plan, whether it is modest or substantial, will bring you feelings of integrity and peace of mind.
Green is the color of spring. Green is the color of money. Green is the color of many things. Green is not the color of anything on Teresa’s plate.
She’s a bit of a rebel and, as such, might be constrained by her high powered job that she has described as demanding yet rewarding. I suspect that, with her take-it-or-leave-it personality (that matches her fiery hair), she expresses her rebellious side by eating what she dang well pleases.
Next step? Still nothing green – but she decided that fries didn’t have to accompany every sandwich and so she occasionally chose cottage cheese instead.
