Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Challenge Yourself!

"There is only one success—to be able to spend your life in your own way."
—Christopher Morley


Isn’t the gift of choice amazing? I know that, at times, the overabundance of choices can seem overwhelming, but can you imagine living without them? God is so very good!

I bring this up, because this week I have chosen to make sacrifices in my diet in order to be successful. It has been challenging, but I am already half way there! I am glad that I can lean on God to help me through this season and make me the best that I can be!

How have you been tested in your life? Have you chosen your tests or have they been laid out before you? Know that with hard work and dedication YOU can accomplish anything through God who gives you strength! Keep your chin up, push forward and anything your heart desires can happen!

In my life, I have found that I am the most successful when I have a plan of attack. With one goal in mind, I can set milestones and prepare myself to rise to the challenge. This requires organization and dedication. Preplanning is the key to my weight loss journey and many of the other things that I have accomplished in my life. How are you organizing yourself to succeed?

Today is an excellent day to set goals and define achievable milestones along the way. Where do you want to be in 5 years? What will you do in the next week, the next month, and the next year to work towards this goal? How will you measure your success in the short and long term? What tools will you need in place in order to be successful?

Congratulations on your accomplishments so far and good luck in your future endeavors!

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your inspiring words! You're right, I should make short and long term goals with everything including my fitness. I think I set myself up for failure because I don't set the goal because I feel like I won't stick with it anyway.

Anonymous said...

Melanie

Thanks for the reminder on having goals. Right now I keep motivated knowing I have about 57 days till my summer vacation and I am not buying new shorts. It's either lose it, or not fit into them.


http://cleangreenadventures.com

Maria Peters said...

Melanie, It might be helpful for you to make a plan for yourself to achieve this goal:

1. How many pounds/inches do you have to loose to fit into the shorts?
2. Divide that number by the # of weeks until your vacation.
3. In order to complete your goal you need to loose __ pounds a week to fit into your shorts... how are you going to accomplish that?
- How will you tighten up your nutrition to loose the weight?
- How many times a week will you workout?
- What will be the intensity of your workouts?

Ensure that you are doing interval cardio training and lifting heavy weights while keeping your diet tight and you will see results. Remember that you can't out-train a bad diet!

Also, I looked at your blog, I love all of the pics! Are you eating enough fruits and veggies everyday? They are full of fiber, which keeps you full longer, and pack a great nutritional punch. You should be getting 6 servings per day.

Melanie said...

Hi Maria,
Thank you so much for writing your reply it's just what I needed to get my rear in gear.

Your right, I haven't been eating enough fruits and veggies. Not because I don't like them, just the cost (because I pretty much won't buy unless it's organic) and I've been in a rut.
The good thing about the rut is that I was losing weight. I was eating Kashi bar's and easier to fix things because I didn't have to think -just do. It was working though, but I knew and know I needed more fruits and veggies. I looked at your blog before leaving work and I just happened to be heading to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods. I spent $80 at each and bought so much produce. Obviously not enough lettuce because I only have one head of romaine left after dinner and making lunch. I bought all of this (all organic) avocado's (6), Kiwi (8), 3 heads romaine, 1 package spinach,red beets (3)(never bought these before), 2 Qt's Strawberry's, 1 large package of oranges, 1 large package of apples, 2 packages carrots, 1 head cauliflower, Zuchini squash (2), Bananas (9), Mushrooms (2 packs-8oz) - I probably missed some. I didn't buy as much of my staples I usually get, because I spent so much - but I have no excuse right now!

Also for the goals. I was figuring that I have 8 weeks till I leave on vacation. I'd like to lose Between 10-16 pounds till then. I know I need to start exercising again, I've really been laxing. I can do this. Thanks for inspiring me :)

Maria Peters said...

Good luck, hun. You will do amazingly!

I usually try to buy all of my produce organic, but because of the expense, I have decided to always look to the Shopper's Guide to Pesticides (http://www.foodnews.org) list that I posted previously on my blog as a guide for buying items organically or not. It's been a difficult transition, though. :) Also, frozen veggies are less expensive than fresh produce (plus you can use coupons on frozen organic veggies, which you can purchase on eBay or print online).