Going Public May Lead to Success

Our first thought when we decide to lose weight is often to keep it to ourselves.

Why?

Maybe we convince ourselves that we want to "surprise" our friends and family when we lose all that weight!  But, chances are - if we're really being honest with ourselves - we probably don't tell others because we don't want to be embarrassed if we fail.

It's time to reverse your thinking.

Think about it this way. If you tell others, you may try just a little bit harder, resist temptation a little bit better, work out a little bit harder. And all those "little bits" may just add up to success.

So, set goals. Tell the people in your life that matter. Ask them to help you resist temptation.

You may be surprised how supportive your friends and family actually are.  And maybe they'll lose weight in the process too!

Finding More Ways to Measure Up

Something occurred to me the other day. In my career as a market researcher, I am fond of telling my clients that they should never put all of their measurement eggs in one basket, so to speak. In other words, don't determine the extent of your success by only looking at one measurement.

Let me explain. Let's say Company A bases their success solely on product sales. One day, their sales grow dramatically and they conclude that their advertising is working great and they are stealing market share from their competitors.

Now, think of their key competitor - Company B. They had an unanticipated production problem which caused them to experience out of stock conditions across the country. Consumers got to the store and found an empty spot on the shelf. Because they really needed the product, they bought Company A's product ... merely as a short-term substitute.

Company B fixes their problem and, lo and behold, product sales for Company A go back to what they were before.

Are you with me so far?

As you can see, drawing a conclusion based on one single piece of data can be very dangerous. That's why reporters and lawyers always look for secondary sources to validate what they are saying.

So, why do we always hop on a scale, look at the number, and make a snap decision about how "thin" we are. We get discouraged that we're not moving the needle and before you know it, we've given up entirely.

Go ahead and weigh yourself but also measure yourself in other ways:

- Measure your waist, thighs, and bust
- Count how many sit ups you do and try improve your number
- Count how many days you can go without soda, carbs, or sweets
- Judge the fit of your clothes, striving for a more comfortable fit
- Count how many steps you can walk up before getting winded

Any good researcher will tell you that doing a PRE and a POST measurement is the best way to track movement. So, select a handful of measures (some that are uniquely your own) and write them down in a notebook. Make notes at least once a week and then do a little Irish jig when you start to see your numbers improve.

The greater the number of standards of measurement you have, the greater the possibility that you will find little successes in your life that continue to motivate you to be the healthiest you possible.

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Please visit my advertising blog at http://adpr1400.blogspot.com/

It's All in a Good Night's Sleep

Did you know that one way to lose weight is to get a good night's sleep every night? According to WebMD:

"...substantial medical evidence suggests some fascinating links between sleep and weight. Researchers say that how much you sleep and quite possibility the quality of your sleep may silently orchestrate a symphony of hormonal activity tied to your appetite."

While a good night's rest may not be the magic bullet to shed loads of weight, every little bit helps! Check out "33 Secrets to a Good Night's Sleep." Maybe you'll find some magical idea on this list that will help you fall asleep tonight!

Counting sheep can help you count calories!

Little Things Add Up

It seems like such an insignificant thing - hold the croutons - but all those seemingly insignificant little things can add up to something big.

Whenever we decide we want to lose weight, it always seems like we start out fast from the gate. We eliminate all the things in life that seem to bring us joy, leaving us with the unappetizing leftovers. It's no wonder that our fortitude to stay with our diet goes right up and down with our weight.

So, maybe a better alternative is to start small.

- Hold the croutons on that salad - are they really worth the extra carbs?
- Try low-fat cheese - you probably won't even taste the difference.
- Share a dessert - you can really enjoy the taste without all the guilt!

Focus on making small changes in your diet and lifestyle and you might just be surprised how big of a difference it makes!

It's the small things in life that count.

The Instant Generation

Our nation has become a nation that relies upon getting everything we want instantly.

We get our money instantly from ATMs.
We get our email instantly from iPhones.
We get our favorite shows instantly from DVRs.
We get food instantly through drive-throughs.
We get information instantly through the Internet.

So, when we're trying to do something like lose weight, we get really discouraged when we don't see the results instantly. We look at the scale and think, "What? I've been so good all week. I can't believe I didn't even lose one pound!!!"

Of course, it may have taken weeks, months, or even years to gain all that weight so it would follow that it may take just as long to lose it. But, whose got the patience for that?

The key is to know that you are doing something great for your body, even if the scale doesn't agree with you. You may be improving your cardiac function, reenergizing your body (and spirit), reducing your stress level, or losing inches that may not be readily seen on a scale. Rest assured that all of your hard work is paying off, particularly in the long-run.

Focus on the long-term benefits.

Welcome to My Blog

script>This blog is not about calorie counting. It's not about dieting or about avoiding foods you really love. It's about making choices, practicing positive self-talk, and becoming the person you know you want to be.

- Eat more fruits and vegetables
- Eat less sugar
- Eat less processed food
- Exercise regularly

At times, we do such a great job following these rules. We lose weight. We have a lilt in our step. We look and feel better than we've felt in a long time.

Then something little happens. You oversleep for work one morning. You catch a nasty cold. You're working against the clock to try to finish a project. You make just one poor decision. A skipped work-out. A candy bar. A burger from a drive-through as you hustle to the next place you're going. Before you know it, that one bad behavior cascades into more and more bad behaviors. And then...you've totally lost your way.

Why is it so blasted easy to lose your way? Why is it so incredibly difficult to climb back on the horse and start riding again?

This is a question that I have recently begun to try to understand. I have a theory about losing weight and living a healthy lifestyle. My theory is that we have to change the way we think - truly change the way we think - so that the behavior becomes second-nature.

So, I have decided to author this blog as a bit of a social experiment. The goal is to use this forum to share ideas and thoughts about what's working ... and not working in my goal to become healthier.

Please join me in my journey...