Changing Behavior and Action

Exercise and weight loss is a lifelong process of making fitness a lifestyle. We all know this, we are inundated with it through infomercials, Oprah, CNN, and each new fitness reality show that airs on television. We are also aware that it is not an easy process to commit to and follow through with. Commitment to this process requires one to put themselves first, something most of us hesitate to do, or simply feel as though it's not possible to do when work, family, and school demand an incredible amount of time, commitment, and focus. There's tremendous guilt associated with putting ourselves first. If there's not enough time to finish all agendas at work and school and spend quality time with family and friends, how can there be time to exercise, to do something for ourselves?

We know that when we cannot exercise, go for a run, get on the bike, play a game of tennis, or walk Town lake we don't feel as good about ourselves as we do when we complete a workout. Adequate exercise and proper nutrition hang over our heads heavily. We are intelligent individuals, aware of the consequences of poor nutrition and lazy activity. However, we are also very busy individuals, burning the candle at both ends, stretched to the max with responsibilities and commitments, unable to fit everything we wish to accomplish in our daily and weekly schedules.

What do we do? How do we justify putting ourselves first for a mere 30-60 minutes a day in order to feel fit, healthy, lean, and confident? How do we change a life long process of saying yes to everyone else and no to ourselves?

This is the biggest, heaviest, most suffocating challenge of life. I too experience this struggle day to day, challenged endlessly to find peace within the chaos, fighting hard to just stay afloat, and finding myself in constant, internal entanglement. We are individuals who want to do it all, who set high expectations for ourselves, who demand nothing less than perfection when it comes to our jobs, family, and school. But why don't we demand this of our bodies and our mind? The problem is we do demand it, but we ignore it because it's our instilled behavior and action to say no to ourselves and yes to everyone else.

The struggle and fight to change behavior and action is evident in our spending of hundreds of dollars on therapy, counseling, personal trainers, life coaches, financial advisers, attorneys, nutritionists, massage therapists, and babysitters. At times it seems to be a constant losing battle, where commitment is defaulted due to more important obligations. And this hangs over our heads heavily, we are unable to sleep at night, we have heart burn, our bodies ache, and anxiety causes a great deal of friction in our personal relationships.

So what do we do? How do we do it? And how do we justify it when there are so many other things in our lives that demand attention as well?

If I had the answer, if I had a system to conquering this struggle that disables all of us at times in our lives, then I would not hesitate one second to relieve each of you from the stress and frustration. However, I will tell you this, and because each of you are smart and intelligent individuals, this is nothing new, just a friendly reminder that I had to call my father for this week.

If we do not put ourselves first, then everything else we do will not be the best we can do. I know that this is such a cliche, but it's a cliche because it is absolutely true and undoubtedly simple. This week, I decided to stay at home almost every night instead of travel to my special man's house. I stayed in my own bed, lied on my own couch, ate my own food, and used my own soap. It doesn't mean I love him less, it just means I love myself more. And this is turn, as my father reminded me this week, will make the relationship last much longer and be that much more enjoyable.

The thing is my friends, we know that we have to put ourselves first. We know that everything else will be second best if we don't. It's just a matter of changing behavior and actions to do so. "Incremental changes create monumental movements." This week, what small change can you do to put yourself first?

See you in the gym.