New Year's Resolution 2023 - And How a Coach can Help

I started this year at my heaviest ever weight. I had lost weight last year but gained it back over the holidays. This is very common with most people. I can't speak for everyone, but here's my thoughts on why this happens based on personal experience. 

1. I cut down on sweets and sodas and I lose weight. Once I get to a point where I'm feeling good about myself, I allow for some "indulgences". All of the sudden, it's a few more and few more and soon, I'm eating sweets and sodas again. 
   
   
2. I cut down on sweets and sodas and I lose weight. Once I hit my goal weight, I go back to old habits and the weight comes back. 
   
   
3. I start to exercise but then stop. What seems to happen here is that I exercise, increase my activity, put on a little muscle but then when I stop, which I inevitably seem to do for a variety of reasons, the weight comes back. The muscle I gained starts to turn to fat. A pound of fat takes up a lot more space than a pound a muscle and I'm back to (or close to) where I started.

So how's this year going for me? Well, the first week, I was doing great. I was either running, walking or hiking every day. I lifted weights twice the first week and did some stretching along with the runs. I cut out sweets, sodas and fast food. I lost 2.5 lbs. that first week. 

The second week, I was back at work. I was traveling again, stressed, eating fast food, having a soda here and there, but worst of all - I did no exercise. I didn't run, walk, hike or lift weights. I gained back some of the weight but I'm still down overall for this year. 

The key for me, and the key I believe for everyone is consistency. That first week, I wasn't exercising around the clock. I ran or walked for just 30 minutes. The hikes were longer but the pace wasn't crazy. My weight sessions only took about 20 minutes so not a lot of time out of my day there either.

This week and through the end of the month, work will be crazy for me. I basically have to travel everyday over an hour each way, to take care of a county that is going through some personnel changes. There is a Subway and a grocery store near the office so I will eat there instead of fast food. I can easily avoid sodas if I avoid fast food places. I don't think of Subway as fast food since I have to go inside. In the drive through, it's just so easy to get the combo (which comes with a soda). I have had luck just getting a grilled chicken sandwich and a bottle of water at fast food places, but there's only McDonalds and Burger King in the area and neither offer a grilled chicken sandwich. 

So, what's next? Well, I will get back on track. I will be consistent. I will run more, even if it's at night and in the dark. I have to get on the road so early that I know I won't run before work. The weights are in my basement so it's just a matter of going down there and using them. I did it the first week. I can do it again. I just can't use the excuse, "I'm tired."

What I really need is some accountability. I can coach people and help them hit their goals time after time. But for some reason, I can't seem to motivate myself. The difference? They are accountable to me. I don't have anyone to answer to. Don't get me wrong. I get that I answer to myself. But honestly, if I had someone checking in on me weekly, I'd undoubtedly be more "on task". Maybe I need to start thinking of myself in the third person...LOL.

So, what's the point of this blog post? 1. Be consistent. 2. Be accountable. Those two things will help you hit your goals. Good luck, and don't give up.