The #1 reason for not losing that unwanted weight

People at work are ‘racing’ and ‘competing’ against each other to lose weight. Friends  are posting goals and sharing stories about weight loss.

In the end, the unsuccessful are always wanting to know why. “Why didn’t I lose that weight, even though I was really trying this time?” So, I thought I’d share my thoughts.

(1) Failing to plan is planning to fail

Yes, we’ve all heard it before. And yes, we all are a lil’ tired of hearing it. But sometimes some things are true even if you don’t want to believe them.

There are an infinite Graham’s Number of excuses as to why you can’t seem to lose those extra pounds. Everyone fails at ‘dieting’ (still hate that word) for one reason or another. Everyone fails at improving their lifestyle for just about the same reasons. I don’t think I need to remind you — “You can’t out-train a bad diet.” So it’s about you and eating.

It all boils down to one reason in my humble opinion: Failing to Plan.

Planning eliminates possibilities. Planning minimizes exposure. Planning can and does make the effort and work much easier to do. The long journey that seems to have no end in sight will seem shorter and much more fulfilling with planning.

And it’s not just planning. It has to be a solid, genuinely given effort. Planning cannot be taken lightly, nor can it be hit-or-miss. Planning must become part of you.

(2) Prior Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance

Not only must you plan, but plan properly, and plan prior to any and everything that you can.

In order to eliminate the possibility of binge eating, or succumbing to those tempting cravings, or surrendering to any exposure to ‘work-time sweets’ you need to plan. And you need to plan ahead.

You KNOW that someone will bring in cookies (sweets) to work. You KNOW someone will want to order take-out for lunch. You KNOW someone will bring some extra ’sweet-snacks’ from the local ’suga-shack’ (a.k.a. Dunkin’ Donuts, Bakery Pastries, Ice Cream, Candy, etc.)

You also KNOW how you react (Piss Poor Performance). You also KNOW if you’ll give in to the ’suga’. You also KNOW if you have it in you to eat ‘only one’.

No one knows your life better than you. No one knows your habits better than you. So plan ahead for what’s in store, and plan ahead for how you’ll react.

Prepare your meals the day before. Hell, prepare your meals as far ahead of schedule as you can, and as far ahead as the food will allow (nobody wants to eat spoiled food). Some individuals will plan a week at a time. Only you can decide what is best for you.

Prepare for your reactions as well. If you are a snacker, and are weak-willed when it comes to that ’suga’,  then bring your own snacks. It’s amazing how you can satisfy a sweet tooth urge with some fruit or other low-calorie food choices.

Before you know it, you’ll no longer have ‘weak moments’. A weak moment only happens if you don’t prepare ahead of time.

The more you prepare, the less frequently those moments will happen.

This particular habit of planning has a way of repeatedly rewarding you. Rewarding you immediately and long term. The more you plan, the more you make planning a part of your psyche, the easier it will become. Soon it will be come an automatic thing like brushing your teeth.

After a while the automatic planning will turn and transform into control. Your efforts to plan will empower you to gain control over you. You will no longer be the passenger, reacting to a given situation. You will become the driver, choosing your path and simply taking it.

Piss Poor Performance is not who you are, only something you do.

Best of luck on your journey!

#1 Reason For Not Losing That Unwanted Weight was originally posted on My Strong Medicine.