One Bite At A Time

“There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time." ~ Desmond Tutu

The only way I've stayed on track the past couple of years with my Health and Fitness goals is by taking everything moment by moment, and one day at a time. One workout at a time. One meal at a time. One snack at a time. It's completely overwhelming to make drastic changes in lifestyle, do them all at once, remember it all, know it all, and expect it to be sustainable.

I've often gotten overwhelmed attempting to be perfect and walk a perfect line when it came to my Food Plan for sure, and my Health and Fitness. Losing 60 + lbs for me was almost as mentally, and emotionally taxing as telling me we were going to climb Mt. Everest. I'd quit as soon as the thought came into my mind! "That was a nice dream." On top of it all....I always had ego from Managing Health Clubs. I knew better.

When I kept the Goal to myself, and did it for myself, and promised myself I would give it my absolute best shot every moment, and every small decision...everything started to add up for me. Very small, daily, adaptations, and I "Ate that Elephant One Bite At A Time"

So many of us have "Perfectionist Identities" that when we attempt to do something, and we fall off the wagon, we quit, because we weren't perfect. Others of us won't even start because we're worried about maintaining perfection. None of what you are doing for yourself is about that.

From my kids' birthday, in July, to the start of school....I was seriously off my food plan, because that's always the trickiest part for me. If I eat a pop tart in the morning....it's on....Lattes, pizza, fries, ice cream, and so on....ALL DAY LONG! I promise you. Sometimes it lasts a few weeks...until I notice cellulite on my booty or muffin tops on my jeans. Then my self-loathing starts...especially because I know better the entire time I'm doing it! I just hop back on the wagon. There's no sense in dwelling on it. I know the consequences of my actions AND they always show up!

Overwhelming yourself with a ton of changes and expecting to be perfect the whole time isn't reasonable. Take it moment by moment, one day at a time, and commit to doing your best each day. Eat the Elephant One Bite At Time!