Prior Planning--Life Preserver

Mintly

Hi everybody! I was just reading Nathan's profile story and I think it's wonderful that we're all committing to our goals, but there will be times, as Nathan points out, when there are set backs. Nathan has come up with a strategy to change his outcome. It's a really good idea to have plans for foreseeable setbacks and be able to adjust. We're only human, after all. (I think. No bots, right?) Anyway, if you have a plan there's something you can do when you fall off the boat like call for a life preserver. What are some setbacks you foresee? What do you plan on doing about them if they happen? Please post 'em. It will help all of us get ideas and you can look at it here later if it happens. Added bonus: writing it down helps solidify your plan in your mind.

DefiningMyHealth

I go it day by day really. I look at it this way, if I screw up and have something I shouldn't have then I know that it is ok. I know that right after that type of food or drink that I put in my mouth that shouldn't have that I will drink a little extra water and then pick right back up where I left off. Having a cookie may not be on my plan right now but it is also not the end of the world if I have it.

Also, I believe having a great support system around you is not only a good idea but a must have. If you can not get it from those you are close to then you better find it somewhere because the better your support system, the better results you will have. Never doubt yourself and always strive for a little better then before.

Really, there is no back up plan or at least not for me there is not one. I live it day by day and moment by moment. I go by what I mentioned above and by doing that it works out ok. Becoming healthy and staying that way is life, a lifestyle to be correct. It will never be 100% perfect and will only be as good as you make it. Mistakes will happen and all you can really do is jump right back up and do a little better next time. Life is not a race to see how fast you can get somewhere but how long you can make it and what you accomplish out of it... it is who you are.

Sorry, I tend to go on and on and sometimes get off track lol. This is a great post though and I look forward to seeing others answers.

nathanwpace

I personally do not do well with a backup plan.... Because in my own mind and experience, if there is a back up plan, I will use it before it's needed.... If I feel a slight rock in the boat, I'm already diving overboard with my life preserver.... When everyone else is looking over wondering what the heck I'm doing. I use visualization boards.... I focus on how I want to look in the end. What is my end "picture" of what I look like. Then every time I fall off track of my goals, I turn back to my visualization exercise and get back on track. That gives me an idea actually..... What do you guys think?

Mintly

I think it's great that you both have found something that works for you! In the end that's what matters. Whatever you do has to work for you.

Visualization sheets are a great idea! It's a great motivational tool.
Do you post it somewhere where you can see it everyday or do you just pull it out when you feel a need?

I put a pic from a 5k I was working up to as my desktop background. It was up there for three or more months. Everyday I'd look at it when I booted up my computer.
I'd recite my goal. "I will run the whole thing." I did, despite a reoccurring injury. Didn't stop once.

I guess I should explain a little better.
Here's a real life example:
I went over my calorie goal yesterday by 200 calories. I've been doing this for the past week. I eat two portions at dinner and my calorie tracker shows it.
Negative self talk-- I should give up because I am a failure. I can't even stick to a stinking diet. But a better way to look at it would be to use my backup plan. Realistic self talk--I have already preplanned for just such an occasion and I realize that I am not a failure, I am human, and apparently hungry, and that I am still making progress toward my goal. So I need to adjust a little, it's okay. I'm trying to build new routines and I know where the issue is. I eat too much for dinner. Here are a couple of my backup plans.
I adjust my plan to match my calorie intake and take longer to reach my goal. (Nope, I'm in a hurry. My body hurts and the sooner I drop my extra luggage the less pain I'll feel)
I work out harder and longer to create a larger caloric deficit today.
These are temporary fixes to the root issue.

Result: I've been doing two workouts a day to make up for the caloric difference.

All I am saying is you don't have to throw the baby out with the bath water if the day or week doesn't go according to plan. You are trying to change a life time of habits. It's not a failure. It's a challenge. Who doesn't like a good challenge? If you foresee an obstacle and you have a plan it is much easier to adjust, stick with it and get back on track.

Does anyone have a portion control problem at dinner?
There should be some small adjustment to my routine that I can make that takes next to no effort to stop the second portions. Since the routine is in place and it's harder than heck to change maybe I need to go with halfsies on the first portion and halfsies on the second portion for a grand total of one portion! I think that may work. It fits in with my current routine and I should get the desired result. I'll give it a shot.

Note: I've tried just going in once,but I still go in twice. I've tried prepackaging dinner leftovers. I still go in twice and attack the leftovers.

Next thing I'll try is grabbing some fiber or something. After one portion I'm still hungry. Any thoughts?

Two work outs a day makes me tired. But it sure does inspire the want to change.