Mental Toughness - How You Gonna Eat Your Elephant?
takerbrat
Posts: 81 Member
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!
What is your elephant? What is holding you back from being the best version of yourself that you can be? We all have moments of weakness, what keeps you strong? When you do give in, what can you do to strengthen your resolve so that the choice is different next time?
I have 6 weeks left in the challenge with my son and 10 lbs to lose. For every lb I fail to lose I have to pay him $100 and given that I have been saving to buy some new clothes when we visit my Mom in Mesa at Christmas . . . that could seriously impact my shopping! I have been pretty good with my food intake and since recommitting to my water consumption I am confident that I have that under control. My elephant is my workout schedule and taking my vitamins. My son wants me to be doing 4 resistance training sessions a week (2 in group class, 1 upper body workout and 1 lower body workout at home); 2 HIIT sessions a week (High Intensity Interval Training - run like hell for 30 seconds, rest for 1 minute x 8 reps); and one moderate cardio session per week. I am not always disciplined enough to get those home workouts in. Today I am recommitting to my workout schedule. For the next 7 days I am going to shoot for 100% compliance to all aspects of my program - food, water, vitamins and workouts. I am going to treat program compliance as if I was quitting smoking (it has been 15 years since I smoked a cigarette). I will celebrate each day that I comply with my program and I will give up the red wine (I enjoy a glass most evenings with my last meal of the day) so that I have the mental toughness to get those home workouts in at the end of the day!
How are you gonna eat your elephant?
What is your elephant? What is holding you back from being the best version of yourself that you can be? We all have moments of weakness, what keeps you strong? When you do give in, what can you do to strengthen your resolve so that the choice is different next time?
I have 6 weeks left in the challenge with my son and 10 lbs to lose. For every lb I fail to lose I have to pay him $100 and given that I have been saving to buy some new clothes when we visit my Mom in Mesa at Christmas . . . that could seriously impact my shopping! I have been pretty good with my food intake and since recommitting to my water consumption I am confident that I have that under control. My elephant is my workout schedule and taking my vitamins. My son wants me to be doing 4 resistance training sessions a week (2 in group class, 1 upper body workout and 1 lower body workout at home); 2 HIIT sessions a week (High Intensity Interval Training - run like hell for 30 seconds, rest for 1 minute x 8 reps); and one moderate cardio session per week. I am not always disciplined enough to get those home workouts in. Today I am recommitting to my workout schedule. For the next 7 days I am going to shoot for 100% compliance to all aspects of my program - food, water, vitamins and workouts. I am going to treat program compliance as if I was quitting smoking (it has been 15 years since I smoked a cigarette). I will celebrate each day that I comply with my program and I will give up the red wine (I enjoy a glass most evenings with my last meal of the day) so that I have the mental toughness to get those home workouts in at the end of the day!
How are you gonna eat your elephant?
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Replies
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I'm not sure how I'm going to do it because my elephant is eating me, one bite at a time.
All of the stresses at home aren't helping. I've lost a few, then gained some, then lost some. Now I've found myself sliding back into some old habits again lately: Eating out, sweets, and improper portion sizes.
I haven't been a complete failure--I have learned some good things on MFP. I'm still watching my calories more or less. And I'm exercising several times a week. But I could do better. I'll have to give this one some thought and get back with you.
You've done a great job! Congratulations on your successes so far. I think your son isn't getting any money when your challenge period is up. :happy: That new wardrobe awaits!0 -
Maybe I can help with this, Leslie Sasone has an upper body and lower body workout on her 7
day DVD and that is what I use. I do this 3 times a week at home. The other days I do cardio
and the last day I use as a rest day, usually Sunday. I record all my exercises everyday, track all
the food and it seems to keep me accountable. This is all done at home. I take my vitamins
religiously everyday and drink my water. That's about all you can do beside what you choose to eat.
I have increased my exercise to at least 50 min a day. I hope this helps and you can also do what your son
recommends and maybe you will have better luck. Just keep moving !!0 -
Thanks for your post but are you ever "unmotivated"? If so, how do you overcome that? Do you have any food weaknesses? If so, how do you abstain, or if you indulge . . . how do you prepare yourself to not indulge next time?Maybe I can help with this, Leslie Sasone has an upper body and lower body workout on her 7
day DVD and that is what I use. I do this 3 times a week at home. The other days I do cardio
and the last day I use as a rest day, usually Sunday. I record all my exercises everyday, track all
the food and it seems to keep me accountable. This is all done at home. I take my vitamins
religiously everyday and drink my water. That's about all you can do beside what you choose to eat.
I have increased my exercise to at least 50 min a day. I hope this helps and you can also do what your son
recommends and maybe you will have better luck. Just keep moving !!0 -
This post came at a perfect time for me.
What is my elephant? My scale!
This weekend I allowed the number on the scale instead of the number on my measuring tape to throw me into a tailspin which led to a feeding frenzy!
I know I am eating well and exercising regularly doing everything to be healthier and yet I let the number on the scale define who I am! Up until I had weighed on Saturday I felt leaner and noticed my clothes fitting more comfortably. Yet once I seen the scale go up in weight I let it diminish all my efforts even though the measuring tape indicated that I had lost 2 1/2 inches on my body.
I have put my scale away and will continue on and weigh at the end of the challenge.
Thanks for posting this.
Karen0 -
That damn scale! I hate the thing. You are so right about how it can ruin how good you are feeling. I struggle with putting as much weight (no pun intended) on the tape measure as the scale, but it is a big mental obstacle for me, too. I've tried getting rid of my scale in the past and I always drug it out from its hiding place. I haven't derailed myself this time, and I'm doing my best to keep it that way. (fingers crossed)This post came at a perfect time for me.
What is my elephant? My scale!
This weekend I allowed the number on the scale instead of the number on my measuring tape to throw me into a tailspin which led to a feeding frenzy!
I know I am eating well and exercising regularly doing everything to be healthier and yet I let the number on the scale define who I am! Up until I had weighed on Saturday I felt leaner and noticed my clothes fitting more comfortably. Yet once I seen the scale go up in weight I let it diminish all my efforts even though the measuring tape indicated that I had lost 2 1/2 inches on my body.
I have put my scale away and will continue on and weigh at the end of the challenge.0
