Role Models and Success

Today, imagine that you live in a world where scales do not exist. How would you measure your success? How would you know if you were healthy and fit?
I cannot visualize me at my goal weight. I have tried the computer models, and my first reaction is oh honey, you are so skinny!! I know I still have a "fat-head" and I am working on that. Spark Coach has been a wonderful tool for me.
The question is how would I measure success without the scales. I would measure by testing my strength, and breathing capacity. How many stairs could I run up before becoming winded?
How long could I walk before becoming exhausted? How effective have I been at remaining smoke free?
I would measure by the size of clothes that fit me. That is subjective, because a size 10 in one line is not necessarily a size 10 in another line. If I buy something at Nordstroms, I can get a size 22 and its fine. If I buy something at Target or Walmart, a 24 is tight and a 26 is more the norm. I can't let "size" define me!
Most days I wear capri yoga pants and T tops- they are basic, cheap and comfortable. I am retired and basically have gotten very complacent. The money that I am saving by not smoking will help build a nice wardrobe. Or to be honest, quite a few wardrobes, because I know that I am going to need well fitting pieces about every 35 lbs.


Today, think about who your healthy role models are. You don't have to know them personally, although knowing and spending more time with them can help you be more successful. How can you be more like these inspirational people? What can they teach you that can help you reach your goals? How can thinking--and behaving--like them help you stay on track and be more successful?

One of the most influential people in my weight loss journey has been my hospital dietician. I feel like we learn from one another. She is elegant, slender, and watches her weight. Like most of us she is trying to balance family, work etc. When I first went to her I asked her if she ever had a weight problem. She replied that her mother had , and she was almost anal with the children that they not become obese. That was quite the revelation to me. My family, mother, grandparents and aunts had made obese look like the norm. So I started out emulating how she plans her meals, and decided to give the Sparks program a real go. I had joined years ago, but hadn't developed a program for success. I was more into " If you build it , they will come" mentality. It may work in Baseball, but it sure hasn't worked in my life- LOL

I had kidney surgery a year ago and was advised to reduce my protein intake, so all the years of doing low carb, Atkins, and just plain starving myself took it's toll. I am grateful that I still have both kidneys. She gave me a "prescription" for a food plan, and I am happy to say that once I got the hang of logging, I am 90% compliant. I do have to admit it took the better part of six months to get to logging on a regular basis!! And then of course, like an alcholic, I had to be brutally honest and log everything. The good, the bad and the just downright ugly. It is now a part of what I do, and if circumstances don't allow for that one hour session to do MY thing, like early Dr appointments, then it seems my whole day needs a reboot.

My DH has volunteered to take over preparing breakfast, so I can have my Spark time. Little by little we are learning to cook together, and he is learning more about nutrition and balance also.
As MS would say "That is a good thing"

Todays plan: Eat per plan, exerplay this afternoon in the pool for an hour. And work on organizing my "Sanctuary" ( home office).