Weight Loss Tips #18: Be Your Own Cheerleader!

Yesterday, I ran the 2014 Walk of Life with some of my co-workers.  I ran it last year too.  Last year, I was in way better shape than I am this year, and I also had been running a lot prior to the race.  I had a stress fracture in my leg though and after the race I had to take some time off from running.  Part of me wanted to just stop running completely. 

I wanted to run the Walk of Life in 40 minutes or less.  The course was 3.25 miles long (so a bit longer than a 5K), and I completed it in 42 minutes 14 seconds.  I was bummed.  I was bummed I didn't reach my goal. I was bummed I walked part of the way.  I was bummed I didn't beat my time from last year (36 minutes), even though that wasn't my goal to begin with. 

And then I realized while I was beating myself up that I accomplished my goal of finishing the 5K.  I ran a large part of it, and I can train to beat my time next year. I can run more 5Ks for great causes and improve my time as I go.  Everyone around me was telling me what a great job I did, and all I was doing was making myself feel bad. 

Two words: STOP IT! 

Be your own cheerleader in order to go further, to lose weight, to run harder, and you will do better and feel better about it!  Similar to a positive thinking mentality.  Sometimes thinking negatively is a self-fulfilling prophecy. 

I think this is why so many people stop trying to win the battle of obesity and stop trying to lose weight when they have ONE bad day.  They beat themselves up!  Instead of telling yourself you can't lose those 5 pounds, start telling yourself you can.  Praise yourself when you lose 1 pound.  Pat yourself on your back when you run 1 mile, or heck, even a 1/2 mile!  All of these are accomplishments worth being proud of because they lead you to your ultimate goals.  Be your own biggest cheerleader and the weight will come off.  Revel in how you have taken control of your life and keep up the momentum by praising your own efforts.  Listen to people when they tell you you're doing a great job, because chances are they're telling you the truth.  Stop the negative thinking!

Here are a few people who have motivated me lately:

• Listening to Other People's Stories: My sisters and the guy at Chappy's.  These people had some great advice for me on how to lose weight, how to keep going, and how to think positively while doing it. 
• My friend Miranda Grace: She and I are taking this journey together.  It helps to have someone who can ground you.  She and I motivate each other, we hold each other accountable to exercising and eating right.  We compare food diaries on MFP.
• My friend SB: He likes to say things like, you can run a half-marathon with me in October.  HA!  But seriously, having another person who THINKS you can achieve something that wild and crazy is motivating.
• Seeing Other People Who've Been Through the Same Struggle: I love seeing people who've been in the same boat as me, who have struggled for so many years and have achieved their goals!  It's amazing, and it makes me want to get there again and keep it off for good!

CHECK OUT THE LAST EDITION OF WEIGHT LOSS TIPS-->RIGHT HERE!!!

Discipline

Today is going to be a busy Saturday, though much less busy and much more relaxing than a Saturday during meet season.  I love Son Number One's gymnastics meet season, but it wears me out with the travel and the constant running around.  It is always a relief when it is over. 

I did not meet my weekly challenge to run for the rest of the week.  We had a bit of a monsoon, and I didn't really feel like running in a thunderstorm.  Lightning is not my friend.  I hate treadmill running.  For some reason, I completely suck at it.  I can't get going on the treadmill. I feel better when I have the outside world to run in.  It helps me free my mind.  So, today the rain is supposed to dissipate, and I'm planning on fitting in a 2-3 mile run.  I need the routine to enforce the discipline of running, to increase my endurance, and to feel comfortable running a 5K in approximately one month. 

Speaking of 5Ks: I'm running with my office, and I'm trying to fund raise.  You can click here to donate, if you'd like.  It's for the Walk of Life: funding for mammograms for people who can't afford it and for early detection of breast cancer. 

Back to discipline.  Discipline is such an important part of life.   Taekwondo taught me discipline, and it's one reason I miss going there. I also miss the social outlet.  I made some great friends there.  But the discipline is incredible: literally training your body to do what you tell it to do, and having to go a certain amount of times a week and being accountable.  These are all things I'm trying to do on my own now, and it's about ten times harder without people to encourage you.  But I'm doing it.  I'm putting myself out there, and I'm exercising.  I'm making myself have discipline, which is not something that comes naturally to me.  I'm a rule breaker, and I've always been willy nilly and done what I've wanted to do.  I've never cared too much for things that require self control and discipline, but it is a skill and it improves with a little work and requires stepping out of my comfort zone. 

Another member of our family will be working on discipline today too:

That's right: Skippy is starting discipline school.  It's much needed too.  He's a spoiled rotten dog.  He loves to jump up and give kisses.  That's the Jack Russell in him.  He can be so sweet and such a lap dog, but he's developed some bad habits, so we're going to make sure he gets the proper training to be disciplined and do what he's supposed to!  I never thought I could love a dog as much as I love this little guy though.  Just seeing him in the morning makes me smile.

Discipline: the theme of the week in the Greene household. 

Joy to Life

I know.  I've been missing in action.  I haven't blogged for over a week.  I've been seriously busy with LIFE.

What have I been doing that's taking up so much of my time?

1) Getting three kids to smile, while wearing pretty clothes (um, make that handsome clothes for the boys)...and a BOW!!!

 

 

2) I'm pretty sure this one speaks for itself...

 

 

 



3) Reading -- I've pretty much had my head stuck in a book the last two or three weeks...or maybe my whole life. 

 

 

4) Eating -- hey, it was Easter.  Um, I'm paying for the splurge now to the tune of 5 extra pounds!

 

 

 

THINGS I DIDN'T DO OVER THE LAST WEEK, BUT SHOULD HAVE DONE:

 

1) Exercise--boo.  I was lazy.

 





2) Clean -- this could be on my list every week.  I hate cleaning.

 

 

And last, but certainly not least, the one thing I'm very proud of having DONE THIS WEEK was signing up for the Joy to Life Walk/Run. I will do the 5K!  I need to train MORE.  Aghh!!!  I signed up yesterday, and I earned a free cupcake at Gigi's (as if I needed more incentive to exercise!)   I want to raise $500. Click below and just put in my name, Lauren Greene, and make your donation to this cause.  This cause is very personal to me, because my grandmother had the cancer gene, and she had cancer many times in her life, including breast cancer.  We all know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, so why not give towards finding a cure.  THANKS!!!

 

                                         CLICK RIGHT HERE TO DONATE