How did I get fat?

How did I get fat?
My exercise and nutritional choices.

I developed bad eating and exercise habits without being fully aware of the long term consequences. My body adjusted to the new 'set point' and happily packed on the pounds. My brain adjusted and locked into choices.

Today I completed a work out that would have been impossible for me to do 2 months ago.
Reflecting back on this a bit the body is all about homeostasis and so is the mind.

The body strives to keep its system regulated/adjusted to external stimuli and we develop behaviors beliefs and attitudes that once set are hard to adjust. What does this mean for weight loss and long term health?

Dieting can be confusing but when you get right down to it just about any diet will work (initially) as long as you stick with it. Furthermore, this can be a trap as we try to establish habits that are really not sustainable. I'm not saying that a low carb strategy won't yield dramatic results to the contrary I think that it works and it can really kick off your weight loss; It did the trick for me along with other nutritional choices.

However, I think there are some more general points to keep in mind:

1. What is your homeostasis (set point)?
How long did it take you to get to the state your are in? Change is hard..be patient with YOURSELF! It takes time to become the change you want to see in yourself.

2. Turn decisions into behaviors:
Who hasn't decided at one point to start working out, eating healthy, stop smoking, stop drinking, stop cussing, etc? More than likely failure is a result of trying to do it all at once -- it's just too hard and it's not working.. perhaps I will just "revert" back to my previous habits.

So, after trying to loose/keep weight off in the past and failing in my various attempts my suggestion would be NOT try and workout and change your diet at the same time. I found that there was a synergy to setting small goals in one area.

Put another way, I focused in on my nutrition and made incremental obtainable goals (skipping the soda, etc). As I became more cognizant of my nutrition I wanted to start working out. After upping my workout I became even more focused in on my nutrition.

3. Failure is a part of success:
Failure sucks -- we let ourselves down mentally by missing a workout, overeating, or discover that we've some how packed on another pound. Once this happens it's very easy to throw our hands up in despair and give up.

Ah yes, the evil plateau....
Don't despair --your body and mind are revolting against the changes that you've made. In some cases that extra pound is really just water weight or an increase in muscle. Don't focus in on this...Suck it up.
Understand that the failure is the incremental part of success. I will workout to failure/exhaustion. I will strive to push myself further and harder.

4. Variety, variety, variety - Don't do the hamster dance/walk/elliptical twirl in the gym.

Focus.
Push yourself.
Try different equipment, start some HIIT training, do cardio on multiple machines.
After doing your cardio finish up with some anaerobic exercise.

This also applies to your diet. Really, it's okay to indulge a bit just do it in moderation and not to excess.
A starvation diet doesn't work. Eat right and enjoy a treat every now and then. You earned it..

This was a long post meant more for myself... as a reminder. I've lost some weight and kept it off for a year. I'm not going back.
Perhaps it will motivate you as well...

Good luck!