Spring Training

Spring is one of my favorite times of the year. March 20th was it's first day…and in only three more months, summer will be upon us.

When I think about spring, my mind instantly goes to that place where tree and flowers are beginning to bloom and rebirth begins. The cold and dreary days of winter are almost behind us and life becomes warm, fresh, and vibrant. And for all that this season represents, before our eyes is the perfect example of what this period can really mean for us as individuals. This season only happens once a year, and it is the perfect opportunity for renewal, rejuvenation, and transformation to occur for anyone looking to make changes within themselves.

So, how do we get there?

First, Know Your Motivation- I have a friend who has a picture of himself in his old college football uniform, beside his bed. He looks at that picture every morning before he gets up. For him, it‘s his stimulus. It’s the first thing he sees, and that vision stays with him all day long. Another friend just became a Grandmother for the first time, and she wants to be able to play with her grandchild without sweating like a pig or getting winded when she runs down the driveway. (Those are her words…NOT MINE!) Keeping these powerful motivations front and center makes it easier to be strong when faced with temptation. Sheer determination will help to face challenges head on.

Secondly, Set Realistic Goals- When you’ve got a lot of weight to lose that large number can be overwhelming. Instead of concentrating on a number, set a goal unrelated to the number. Maybe the goal is to move more this week. Pick an activity, and do it every day. Perhaps, you cut down or eliminate sodas and drink more water. Want to eat healthier foods…cut out that trip to the drive thru, or aspire to eat more fruits and vegetables. (And no, French fries don’t count!) Whatever it is, start small and perfect that habit before moving on to something else. Taking on too much change at one time can set us up for failure and cause us to lose our motivation.

Lastly, Think Positively- One of my favorite Mahatma Gandhi quotes is... “If I believe I cannot do something, it makes me incapable of doing it. When I believe I can, then I acquire the ability to do it, even if I did not have the ability in the beginning.” Once you’ve made up in your mind that you can achieve something…YOU CAN! Reflect on what you can do…not what you can’t. Make it a daily habit to say something positive about yourself and at the end of every day…recall all of those things you did RIGHT! Remove any negativity and self doubt and surround yourself with positive people who support your efforts and care about your results.

Our mental processes are sometimes more powerful that the physical actions we take on to achieve our weight loss goals. Even before we step foot in the gym, or put that first bite of food in our mouths, the decision must be made to SUCCEED! Our self-image and our habits tend to go hand in hand. Change one and your will most certainly change the other. I truly believe that this journey is a mind, body and soul experience, but without the motivation for achievement, this passage to renewal, rejuvenation and transformation is doomed for failure.

Summer will be here before I know it, but I refuse to let the rebirth of spring just pass me by without taking advantage of all that it has in its midst.

Enjoy~