In Control Of My Goals.

Hi, my name is Darcy and I am a control freak....and also a bit of a success junkie...and o.k. I'm pretty hard on myself too. Making goals for myself to achieve things in my life is something that I have always done. However, when I do not get the result that I want I tend F R R R R E A K and obsess. I have found that a lot of times, looking back, I make the goal to be the desired outcome. This seems reasonable, right? However, in evaluating the situations I have failed in, some of the things that I have set as my goals, are beyond my control. Then the "failure" in them inevitably produces a downward spiral in me. Here is an example...

If you have been following my Minority Reports at all, you will see that I am in a frustration stand off against my metabolism. I used to make goals like....I am going to lose 10 pounds this month.

Well, my thinking has changed. I can do everything "right" and if I have a scared metabolism from years of harsh behavior, or hit a plateau phase during dieting, or even have lack of knowledge or skill in an area... I can still find that I worked my butt off and came up short. Therefore, failure, in light of my set goal. Therefore, frustration. Therefore, negativity. Therefore, the impending and ceremonial...throwing in of the towel.

An example of one of my old goals would have been to drop at least two pounds a week. First time that doesn't happen. I'm done. I have failed. It's terrible, I know. However, true.

So now...Here's what I do. 

Q   What do I want?         

A   To look like Jillian Micheals O.K. noted exaggeration, realistically lose 30 pounds. Although, I wouldn't mind being Jillian's twin.

Q    What do I need to do?

A     Eat 1500 calories a day, exercise 5 times a week, cut out diet coke, and get 7 hours of sleep a night. 

THOSE things, in general, I can control. It's my part of the process. That is what my focus needs to be. I have the ability to succeed in that. Therefore, that should be my goal. I can not control what I lose each week. 1-2 pounds a week will hopefully be the outcome, once my goals listed above have been achieved. I just need the ability to succeed in my goal setting. 

Make sense? This maybe just the ramblings of an overachiever, but it has freed my thinking up tremendously. It can apply in lots of different areas of my life and it has helped me to let go of control. All I should focus on, is doing the right thing in my daily part of the process. The rest is up to God anyway, isn't it?

The Minority Report. wk 3.

Well, I must tell you, that it is with great anticipation that I bring you my report this week. So much so, in fact, that I thought I would write it a day early. Just because I couldn't wait until tomorrow to bring you this written piece of inspiration.

All my workouts this week were completed. In fact, I am completing week four of Chalean Extreme with perfect attendance on my part.

Vitamins consumed

Regular meals eaten, measured and all

Not a drop of diet coke in my body, mostly water, water, water....

Sun~ I didn't count calories, but its not like I ate a house either/ REST DAY

Mon~ I didn't count calories, see above/ Burn Circuit 1

Tues~ 1265 cal/ Kick box 30 min, abs 20 min

Wed~1250 cal/ Burn Circuit 2

Th~1520 cal/ Kick box 30 min, abs 20 min

....and ta dah....the prize for my efforts ....NOTHING. not even a tenth of a pound. I wasn't expecting 8 pounds like Atkins, or 10 pounds like diet pills, but I was expecting at least ONE POUND. or even a tenth. I know slow and steady wins the race, but this isn't even slow yet.

Is there a secret condition that I suffer from called sleep eating?

I'm going to go call Jillian....

xo

The Minority Report. wk 2.

ok...so I have good news and bad news...Good news goes first. THE SCALE IS MOVING.
Bad news is in the wrong direction. Up 2 pounds. How special. I love it when hard work produces the desired results. It makes my heart sing.

So the way I figure is this...if after 20 years I can give up diet coke for 27 days now...I can do this....SERIOUSLY! I am hoping that it is partially due to a rebound effect from Atkins...

Here's my number one problem right now:

COUNTING, MEASURING, TRACKING....heaven help me, I hate it.

I once had a job that I had to track my work duties in 15 minutes increments ON PAPER. Talked on the phone, worked on this, worked on that. It nearly drove me to an institution of some kind. I remained committed and did it to the best of my ability, but all kidding aside it killed my soul to live that way. This is eerily similar, but there is no way around it that I see. SO, I am trying a slightly new tactic this week. I have planned out my meals and snacks for the next week. I just came back from the store and have  purchased everything and it is ready for the week. Everything is pre measured and packaged mostly...not the healthiest, but it'll have to do for now. At least, this way, I won't have to write something down and do math every time I eat something.

I am going 1310 calories a day this week. I feel like I am trying to turn the titanic around to go in the right direction. Wait...did I just compare myself to the Titanic? I think I did...oh whatever....

I will also be lifting weights 3 times this week 40 minutes each session, 20 minute ab work out 5 x's, and 60 min kickboxing 2x's.

If the scale doesn't move in the desired direction by next Sat morning...well let's just say I'll be applying for the Biggest Looser. You can watch me next season...I hope I get the pink team.

Wish me luck! How was your quest for healthy living this week?

The Minority Report. wk 1.

And so it goes….a staggering 67% of American’s are overweight. Due to my love of being in the minority, I am going to become non overweight. I have contemplated writing on this topic for a couple months now. Since I have seen such huge benefits of blogging other topics: accountability for me, relating to others, and even possibly helping someone else. It’s a win win. So here goes…

I have worked every trick, done every diet, and jumped on every bandwagon there is. I have had a life long battle…not with my weight (until recently), but always with food. Food has been the enemy. You eat as little as possible. I was very good at that for many years. Combine that with competition level cheer and dance, and well, all was good. Fast forward many years to mid thirties, post three babies, wife, mother, overachiever, demanding job, ministry work, school volunteer, housekeeper, chef, and ceo of my home….hello unsuccessful. My vices no longer work and I am unhappy with the results.

And you know why? I don’t feel good. I feel old and yucky. Lazy and sluggish. Stressed and tired. I refuse to think that is how God has designed this magnificent body I’m living in to feel. Therefore, I need to make some MAJOR changes and start treating it correctly.

So, I will change. This means I get off the road of quick fixes and unhealthy behavior and jump on the road of the sane, slow, and healthy. I will tackle one thing at a time. It’s gonna be slow….and surely irritating. The results are farther away, but better. I have mastered the extremes, I have. I can go weeks eating Atkins, do 10 week boot camps of 90 min of exercise 6 times a week, but then I stop. To achieve the results that I want for myself…I need to live in the middle…and let it be known…I hate it there.

The world is literally inundated with programs of exercise and eating. They can be helpful, sure, but the bottom line is we all know the reality. Healthy bodies are attained by eating less and moving more. I want a pill or program to buy that will give me the health that I want. After all, we live in a world of instant gratification. My children comment if a drive through is taking “too long”. Completely pathetic.

So, I will update my progress on Saturdays in the "Minority Report".  It will help keep me on track. I will share what I’m learning and what I’m annoyed with. I will not share what I weigh. God and I alone will know that. I will, however, share that I am five foot ten and I want to lose forty pounds and so far I am down 9. Thirty one to go. (the number looks less harsh, written in word form.)

Here are my friends to help me on this little journey to blissful bikini wearing this summer:

Tap and Track (for the iphone…)

Chalean Extreme (click here for more info)

water (the diet coke is GONE..its been 20 days)

Join me….won’t you??? It'll be well worth it and more fun with friends...xo.