Live Webinar:
A program to get
you going on your
path to your
dreams and goals.
A program to get
you going on your
path to your
dreams and goals.
"We have to start somewhere or
we're nowhere. So we begin."
- Reina Teindler, Kara's yoga teacher
I know what it's like to feel stuck --
somewhere between wanting to lose
weight and actually doing it. Between
knowing that I should go for a walk
but feeling glued to the couch.
Here are some helpful hints to
get you on your way:
we're nowhere. So we begin."
- Reina Teindler, Kara's yoga teacher
I know what it's like to feel stuck --
somewhere between wanting to lose
weight and actually doing it. Between
knowing that I should go for a walk
but feeling glued to the couch.
Here are some helpful hints to
get you on your way:
1. Get your bearings: Talk to your doctor about your current physical state. Get an
idea of what you can do and start doing it. You have to know where you are to know
where you need to go.
2. Look back and then move forward: We all have great and not-so-great life
experiences. Take some time to see how your eating patterns fluctuated during the
peaks and valleys of your life. I used food – and my weight – as a barrier against bad
things, but it became its own burden. This is your life, not the life of others who have
hurt you. Move forward with strength and purpose.
3. Go beyond the number: Think about what you want to do, not what you want to
weigh. Having a goal – from being able to walk around the block to doing a triathlon –
gives you something real and tangible that you can visualize when it comes time to
make everyday food or exercise choices.
When it comes to everyday choices, you can ask yourself whether your actions are
delaying your dreams or moving you toward that goal. The weight loss will follow if you
move confidently – on a path of eating less and moving more – with direction.
4. Fill yourself with purpose: When I was preparing for Kilimanjaro, I knew I was
climbing the mountain not just for me – but for AIDS orphans who lacked many of the
basics in life we take for granted.
Helping others to help yourself does not have to be such a grandiose thing. (Going a
week without a shower isn't for everyone!) There are local walks and 5K runs to benefit
just about anything every weekend.
On a smaller scale, there are plenty of ways to keep your hands busy -- and out of the
cookie jar. Spend a few minutes writing Amnesty International letters on behalf of those
whose human rights are violated or knit a blanket for a baby in need.
5. Go off the beaten path: Living on autopilot will get you nowhere. If you are looking
to lose weight, think about what you should do differently. When I went to the grocery
store, I bought the same things each time and then I wondered why I wasn’t losing
weight. It wasn’t until I started searching for newer, healthier things that I started to see
the needle on the scale move down.
How can you shake things up -- to eat lighter? How about your exercise routine – are
you just going through the motions? It’s time to take the road less traveled.
6. Get to know your food: Your food is your fuel – eat to power your body. Spend
some time studying your food and what it does -- and doesn't do -- do for you. From
reading labels to asking how something is prepared at a restaurant. Skip refined carbs
as much as possible -- they've always thrown me off track.
7. Think big, start small: Your journey begins now. Your weight gain was a result of
many small decisions. Your weight loss will also be a result of many small decisions –
from choosing skim milk instead of cream in your coffee to deciding whether to stay in
bed or head to the gym.
But you have to start somewhere. If I had said, "I’ll climb Kilimanjaro when I lose 120
pounds", I would have never climbed the mountain. I started on flat trails, then moved
to hills. As I gained strength and experience, I conquered bigger mountains. Then, I
was really ready to hike Kilimanjaro.
8. Get a guide: Any great adventure requires a great guide. Seek advice and help
from those who are more experienced in your dream endeavor.
idea of what you can do and start doing it. You have to know where you are to know
where you need to go.
2. Look back and then move forward: We all have great and not-so-great life
experiences. Take some time to see how your eating patterns fluctuated during the
peaks and valleys of your life. I used food – and my weight – as a barrier against bad
things, but it became its own burden. This is your life, not the life of others who have
hurt you. Move forward with strength and purpose.
3. Go beyond the number: Think about what you want to do, not what you want to
weigh. Having a goal – from being able to walk around the block to doing a triathlon –
gives you something real and tangible that you can visualize when it comes time to
make everyday food or exercise choices.
When it comes to everyday choices, you can ask yourself whether your actions are
delaying your dreams or moving you toward that goal. The weight loss will follow if you
move confidently – on a path of eating less and moving more – with direction.
4. Fill yourself with purpose: When I was preparing for Kilimanjaro, I knew I was
climbing the mountain not just for me – but for AIDS orphans who lacked many of the
basics in life we take for granted.
Helping others to help yourself does not have to be such a grandiose thing. (Going a
week without a shower isn't for everyone!) There are local walks and 5K runs to benefit
just about anything every weekend.
On a smaller scale, there are plenty of ways to keep your hands busy -- and out of the
cookie jar. Spend a few minutes writing Amnesty International letters on behalf of those
whose human rights are violated or knit a blanket for a baby in need.
5. Go off the beaten path: Living on autopilot will get you nowhere. If you are looking
to lose weight, think about what you should do differently. When I went to the grocery
store, I bought the same things each time and then I wondered why I wasn’t losing
weight. It wasn’t until I started searching for newer, healthier things that I started to see
the needle on the scale move down.
How can you shake things up -- to eat lighter? How about your exercise routine – are
you just going through the motions? It’s time to take the road less traveled.
6. Get to know your food: Your food is your fuel – eat to power your body. Spend
some time studying your food and what it does -- and doesn't do -- do for you. From
reading labels to asking how something is prepared at a restaurant. Skip refined carbs
as much as possible -- they've always thrown me off track.
7. Think big, start small: Your journey begins now. Your weight gain was a result of
many small decisions. Your weight loss will also be a result of many small decisions –
from choosing skim milk instead of cream in your coffee to deciding whether to stay in
bed or head to the gym.
But you have to start somewhere. If I had said, "I’ll climb Kilimanjaro when I lose 120
pounds", I would have never climbed the mountain. I started on flat trails, then moved
to hills. As I gained strength and experience, I conquered bigger mountains. Then, I
was really ready to hike Kilimanjaro.
8. Get a guide: Any great adventure requires a great guide. Seek advice and help
from those who are more experienced in your dream endeavor.
First Steps:
Where's Kara now? Check out her Blog
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| You should check with a physician before embarking on any physical endeavor -- from mountain climbing to walking -- to make sure you're in good health. |
Copyright 2008 Fat Woman on the Mountain
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