Persistence Unlimited Personal Productivity Tips

Why “Wake Up” 70 lbs Heavier?

Posted under Goals and Goal Setting, Motivation

I was watching the news this morning when I saw a commercial for Blue
Cross Blue Shield that raised my eyebrow. There was a man getting out
of bed and the voiceover as if he was talking to himself said. “You
aren’t planning it but one day you wake up 70 pounds heavier…” Then
the commercial goes on to sing the virtues of BCBS’s new health plan.

What I want to talk about is the “waking up 70 pounds heavier”
comment. We all know that nobody weighs 100lbs on a Monday and wakes
up the next day weighing 170. That type of weight gain is impossible.
But what can happen is if you don’t pay attention for a span of time it can feel like you wake up with a huge problem. You can weigh a certain weight one day and not pay
attention while you eat the wrong foods and do little or no activity for the next several months or years.

If you don’t pay attention to bad habits they will sneak up on you. Then one day you look in the mirror and say “what happened? I never used to be like this!”

That’s scary isn’t it? That you can gain almost 100 lbs and not really notice it until it’s too late…

What is happening here is the cumulative effect of negative action or non-action. We all have our weaknesses and challenges. Eating can ease stress and make you feel better. But, it’s like what our parents told us “too much of a good thing is bad.” But if you aren’t paying attention, there is no little voice that says “Hey! What are you doing? You already had dinner, why are you refilling your plate?”

Having some foresight about what’s down the road can give you enough vision to pay attention to the signs at the side of it. If you knew there would be a volcano spewing molten ash and killing people a mile down the road would you keep driving toward it?

It’s the same with overeating or indulging in too much junk food. We all know where that road ends up. You can drive for years on that road and barely take notice. But when you finally do arrive, are you going to enjoy the destination? That’s the question to ask yourself.

Now where it can work in a negative way (gain 100 pounds) - it can also
work in a positive way. You could choose to do a positive activity
every day. Just focus on the activity, be it working up to 100 push
ups, to reading 10 pages in your chosen career field every day. These
positives add up, just like the negatives do in the example above.

You do 100 push ups a day for 1 year, you weren’t planning on it, but
suddenly, your waist is 2 inches smaller. How could that happen? You
were working your upper body, not your waist.

You’ve also got a better attitude about life and you are happier. You
“woke up” one day and you felt like a 70lb burdon had been lifted.
Huh? How’s that possible? You were just doing push ups, not seeing a
psychiatrist.

The way this happens is the cumulative effect of positive action
instead of negative. You do push ups, you get stronger over time.
Your body experiences less pain and fatigue. You eat a little less,
you burn more calories, endorphins are released. It probably started
out very painful at first, but as time progresses it becomes easier,
just a good habit, instead of a bad one.

Technorati Tags: goals and goal setting, motivation, dieting, excercise

Also See:

• Take Consistent Action
• How to Avoid Gaining Weight When You Quit Smoking
• 12 Attitudes You Can Develop for Losing 10 lbs. In 30 Days
• Hit a Motivational Brick Wall? These 2 Cognitive Behavioral Strategies Overcome Goal Pitfalls in 15 Minutes or Less
• The Non-Diet Diet