Modify for Success

"Modify for Success" my trainer said to me at my session last Friday. This was in response to the horrified look I gave him when he said I would be doing pull ups. On one hand I know how trainers work, and was afraid he was actually going to make me struggle through pull ups, and I felt like I was in my high school PE class again. On the other hand, I wanted to laugh out loud at how ridiculous the prospect of me accomplishing a pull up was. OK, I'll give him the benefit of the doubt, he hasn't yet steered me wrong. So we walk through the gym to a very strange contraption, he explains it to me, but it doesn't make it seem any less strange and scary.
Basically it's a movable bar, so you can adjust the height, from almost on the floor to way above my head. The purpose is to give you a level in which you can accomplish push ups and pull ups without going full out. So with the bar about stomach high, I pushed out some pull ups, and with the bar about chest high, I pulled off some pull ups. At the time, all I thought was "Cool, like that I can do this." But yesterday as I took my afternoon walk, I started thinking about it again.

"Hm," I thought to myself. "It seems to me, I can take that phrase and apply it to just about anything. Modify for Success." Well, if that didn't get my mind churning. What else in my life needs accomplishing that is a struggle? Well, obviously my weight loss efforts. So, Modification #1: Altered mindset. It dawned on me that in the 2 weeks before the Biggest Loser contest at work started, I had dropped over 10 pounds without really trying. I just started moving more, watched my portions, threw in more fruits and veggies and increased my water intake. I wasn't thinking about how much weight I lost every single day. Well, since the contest started, that's all I can think about. Every day, "Did I lose any weight today," "Did I do anything I shouldn't have," "What did I eat that I shouldn't have," and all sorts of other negative thoughts. Head slap moment, what am I thinking! This isn't just about losing weight, this is about lifestyle changes towards a healthier me! So, switch that mindset back to what was working before. I am no longer focusing my efforts on winning the contest, I'm back to focusing on healthier living. If it isn't a change I am making in my lifestyle, it isn't something I need to do. Even after a few hours with this new mindset, I feel so much better about myself. For a while there, I had forgotten that I liked myself!

Now, a big part of my efforts are in blogging & Twitter. So, Modify for Success number 2 & 3 - Twitter is now mu homepage. So every time I log in to the internet, I'm brought right into the warm support of my tweoples! As for my blog, those of you who have been here before, probably noticed the dramatic changes. It feels more like me now. I feel at home in my blog. And besides being prettier to look at, I think it has really given me more freedom in my writing. I'm not afraid to say anything, so don't be surprised if my posts start to sound different. You're getting insight to the real me now. In addition to the cosmetic modifications, I'm modifying my blogging for success by making a schedule of things to talk about. So coming soon you'll start to see my weekly recap (including weigh in) every Monday, I'll start featuring a Weight Loss Blog Buddy, you'll see healthy recipes (deserts for sure!), Fitness tips and articles including tips from my trainer, and more.

Now, this isn't all about me anymore! If you notice, I also changed the name of my blog. It is now "Journey to a Healthier Life", I'm modifying for the success of all my followers who want to live healthier lives.

Healthy and Happy Living

De'Anna