OnePhatMan

Margaret Thatcher, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, once said:

One only gets to the top rung on the ladder by steadily climbing up one at a time, and suddenly, all sorts of powers, all sorts of abilities which you thought never belonged to you–suddenly become within your own possibility and you think, “Well, I’ll have a go, too.”

Being successful at changing your body - changing your health - is just like being successful in any other endeavor. Everything should be done one step at a time, with one foot in front of the other. Take working out, for instance. I work out six days a week, for at least 30 minutes at a time.

It wasn’t always that way.

When I started working out, way back in 2000 when I was staring 400 pounds in the face, all I could do was tread water for 10 minutes at a time. After a few days I made it to 15 minutes, then 20, then I moved to the stationary bike for 15 minutes at a time. I built up to doing walking videos, then to walking outside. I began to lift light weights, then heavier and heavier.

Before I knew it I was lifting heavy weights several times a week, and walking or running several times a week. I did this until very recently, when a shoulder injury sidelined the weight training. Now a knee problem (more on this in a minute) threatens my cardio workouts.

Eating was the same way. When I started, I was eating the same things I ate when I was superfat, though for several months I didn’t eat any sugar out of diabetes concerns. Gradually, I started eating less and less crappy food and more and more natural food. Now, I eat mostly natural foods - whole grains, fresh fruits, veggies, plenty of meats and nuts, and other things - and only have crappy foods on Fridays.

Any major success is built on smaller accomplishments. Don’t let yourself get overwhelmed by the big picture, just aim to improve yourself a little bit each and every day. If you don’t do so well one day, stop whining and pick yourself up.

You’ll never be the same, if you just commit to small and consistent improvements, and you’ll find that there’s nothing impossible for you.

The squatter has informed me that they’re about to give me the Chunk to Hunk domain. Expect to see less of me when that happens, as I start to put a site together.

Yes, I know I could be putting the site together now, but I’m procrastinating.

The pain in my left knee continues to plague me, to the point that it’s affecting my day-to-day life. I thought it was related to the elliptical, and my increased resistance level there, but even cutting back doesn’t make it stop hurting at night. I’ve taken over a week off of hiking, to make sure that wasn’t the problem (even though I knew it wasn’t, because what makes it hurt most is our stairs and inactivity).

I’m afraid I have arthritis, or even worse, no cartilage left because of the way I treated my knees for so many years.

I’m going to see an orthopedist next week, to see what he thinks. I’m not sure how much good he can do right now because there’s a two-month-old screw in my shoulder, which I think may keep me from getting another MRI right now.

I imagine having a screw ripped out of your shoulder blade and through your muscles and skin by a giant magnet would hurt like hell.

Getting old, and wearing out your body too soon sucks. Take it from someone who knows.

When you look in the mirror, what do you see? Do you see a loving, lovable person who is the picture of good health? Or do you see something else — an obese, out-of-shape person that everyone looks down on?

Our self-image is something we don’t often give a lot of thought, but it’s one of the most important tools we have to transform ourselves. Scientists tell us that the subconscious mind—the home of our self-image—can’t differentiate between what’s real and what isn’t. It accepts everything it’s told without question, and will follow any order it’s given.

Everything you do—everything you can do—is based on the self-image you have of yourself. If your subconscious sees you as fat and unlovable, you will act, feel, and behave like someone who is fat and unlovable. As a result, you limit yourself, and your self-image provides you with your very own self-fulfilling prophecy.

There’s good news, though: it’s entirely possible to change your self-image, and it isn’t even that difficult. Want to know what it is?

Sit down and plan out a clear picture of who you want to be, then start living like you’re already that person. Listen closely: when I say clear I mean CLEAR. A clear picture is exact, and it is detailed. A clear picture describes you down to the minutiae, like how you look, how you feel, what you’re able to do, and so on. A clear picture is NOT something like “I weigh ten pounds less.”

Will you instantly become that person? Of course not; transformations take time. But, you can start living like that person right now. If the person you want to be works out daily, go work out to the best of your current physical abilities. Work out now, not later. If the person you want to be doesn’t eat things like the snacks currently filling your pantry, get up and throw them away. If the person you want to be eats a certain kind of food, go out and buy that food.

If you consistently live like the person in your new self-image, over time you’ll become that person.

Don’t let your past limit your new self-image. So often we think that just because we’ve tried to change in the past and failed that we’re doomed to fail again. That’s a load of baloney. You can’t change what you’ve done in the past, but you don’t have to let it dictate what you do in the future.

Don’t let someone else limit your image. The naysayers are like emotional vampires, and all they want to do is bring you down to their level. You’re better than that. Rise above it, and show people the things that are possible when you believe in yourself.

Dream big, and accomplish miracles.

health+and+wellness, self+image, motivation, weight, diet