Since the new year, I have been actively working on losing weight and getting more fit. Don’t worry – I am not turning this into a weight-loss column. I don’t think the world needs any more of those.
But I have been thinking a lot about what I know about losing weight and how that knowledge can be applied to all other aspects of life. Some key takeaways:
- You’re more than a number. The number on the scale was higher than I anticipated when I stepped on it Jan. 1. I could have had an emotional spiral over that – and sabotaged my goal before I even got started. But here’s the thing: No one knows that number and if they did know it, they probably wouldn’t think much of it – since they are consumed with their own lives and their own numbers, after all. Not even my doctor knows the number, since I haven’t had an appointment in months. That number doesn’t define me. The same can be said of the number in your checking or savings account. The number of dates you went on last year. The number of meetings you have on your calendar this week. The number of gifts you received on your birthday. The number of likes your latest social media post received. The number of miles on your car. We walk around sometimes obsessing over these figures, thinking that they tell the whole story of where we are in our lives. But do you remember how many meetings you had the week of February 21, 2018? Do you remember exactly how much money was in your checking account that day? No? Then let’s stop obsessing with the numbers and start focusing on long-term trends and overall happiness to measure how we’re doing.
A photo from one of my many walks, which begin on the American Tobacco Campus.
- Say it loud and proud. Losing weight is a whole lot easier when you share your intentions. There’s accountability – and support – built into that. I’m not going to tell a friend that I’m trying to lose weight and then the next day suggest that she and I visit an ice cream parlor. You’re a whole lot more likely to go to your fitness class if you post on social media: “This week’s goal: Head to the gym at least three times!” This applies to so many things in life. If you want to find love or a new career or even if you’re determined to read more books this year – speak it into existence.
- Success begets more success. Nothing motivates you to keep going like progress. One day of solid exercise will lead to another. A morning weigh in where I discover I am down a pound will lead to me taking the steps to ensure that tomorrow I’m down another half-pound. Momentum! Conversely, setbacks often lead to more setbacks. Ask yourself: How can you pick up a win today? Can you finish that work task that you’ve been putting off for three weeks? Can you chug a liter of water before you even step into the shower? Can you confront an issue in your personal life head on? If so, you’ll set yourself up for more victories tomorrow.
- Give yourself – and others – grace. Ever had one of those moments when you’re trying to watch what you eat, but you “fall off the wagon” once, so you just go all out and eat more junk? It would be like dinging your car door and then saying, “I might as well total this thing while I’m at it! Let me drive it into a wall.” Don’t do this. If you mess up, hit the reset button. Start over tomorrow. This goes for relationships and professional goals and basically all things. You’re human. So is everyone around you. Failures will occur. Just keep going. Don’t expect perfection.
A delicious fish dish I enjoyed during dinner at The Durham Hotel a few weeks ago.
- Life isn’t fair. Be grateful anyway. I know people who can down an entire box of Cheez Its and follow that with a 12 count of chicken nuggets. And that’s just one meal. These people all weigh about 124 pounds each. That is so not fair. I could focus on that. But that’s not a good use of my energy. (And as I already said – don’t focus on the numbers!) Play the cards you were dealt and find a way to appreciate those cards. Sure, I can’t eat a burger without paying a price for it, but without breaking a sweat, I can belt out a tune, write 1,000 words, run a business, show up to meetings on time, make people laugh – you get the idea. We all have our superpowers. Another way to think of this: Comparison is the thief of joy. Stop comparing yourself and your successes to other people!
- Preparation is key. Tom Hanks’ recent speech at the Golden Globes about the value of showing up on time and knowing your lines hit me in the feels. I’m known for that. I jot down my thoughts before meetings and always allow time for traffic. Preparation is a useful tool in life. Lately, I peruse restaurant menus before I arrive for dinner, carry healthy snacks in my purse, take a list into the grocery store, and keep my water bottle filled and close by. Plan out your day with a to-do list. Spend some time gathering your thoughts about a project before you’re asked about it at work. Take 10 minutes to tidy your home before you leave in the morning. Check the forecast for the next seven days so you won’t be caught off guard. Make sure you have fun social plans on the calendar next month, so you’ll have something to look forward to. You’ll benefit from all this preparedness!
- Rewards are fun and effective. You know what they say about “all work and no play.” So whether you are seeking the motivation to clean out your garage, stick to a workout plan, or do your taxes – make a deal with yourself that you’ll be rewarded, whether that reward is a new pair of shoes, an afternoon of Netflix, or coffee with a friend.
My walks are often followed by a smoothie at Juicekeys downtown.
- Leave the past in the past. I wish I could go back in time, to when I was 20 pounds lighter. I can’t. I could spend hours dwelling on what I consumed a year ago or the days I was too sedentary. You could spend way too much time thinking about an awkward moment you had yesterday or an opportunity you turned down a two decades ago. Regret won’t get us anywhere. So, work to generate some positive energy about this moment, the one we’re in now. And then, move forward!
After a decade as an editor with various NC magazines, Andrea Cash launched her own creative services company, Andrea Cash Creative, in 2017. She helps small businesses and organizations in Durham and Chapel Hill with content strategy and creation, branding, PR, social media, and video and event production.
Andrea is passionate about community building, doing work that benefits the greater good and helping entrepreneurs grow their business in a purposeful way. Outside of work, Andrea sings in her cover band Penny’s Bend, plays tennis as often as she can, volunteers with Habitat for Humanity of Orange County and Book Harvest, and runs communications for grassroots progressive group FLIP NC.
