The Recipe for Success

I was whining at (whining to implies getting a morsel of sympathy in response-- which I definitely wasn't) my trainer the other day about my stalled weight loss.  He's been my trainer for the last two years and I've had some major plateaus, so this is not a new conversation.  But clearly it is a tired one.   My whine was pure pity party-ness, only without so much party. I told him that it felt like nothing I did made a difference, and that it's really, really brutal and silly and hard to keep putting in so much effort without seeing any results.  See I told you it was a whine-fest.  And you can imagine the response I got from a former body builder, now trainer who has been doing this for forty years.  It wasn't even going to help to play the "but I'm a woman with wacky hormones" card, so I wisely didn't.

He asked me what seemed to be a completely irrelevant question: "How much yeast does a batch of dough require?"

I stammered and guessed that it was maybe half a teaspoon, but homemade bread (soft, delicious, smell good, lovely, homemade bread) isn't really a part of my lifestyle anymore.

He made a beautiful, simple point with one more question: "What would happen if you only put in an 1/8 of a teaspoon?"  Hmmmph.  Master Trainer: 1.  Whiny novice trainer: 0.

It was a fair point well made, and it's stuck with me.  He rightfully pointed out that there is one thing I haven't tried, which is making sure I cook all my meals.  While I've learned how to eat healthfully anywhere, and can pretty well guestimate calories of most foods that I would eat, I don't know exactly what goes in or exactly how much I'm eating.

I'd already decided I was dropping alchohol all together after I learned the really detrimental effects it has on weight loss efforts.  I'd already decided I was going to shoot for an 80% clean diet.

But what if this one thing was the yeast shortage? Even if everything else about the recipe is right, this one thing would change the bread from fantastic to flop.  I go hard in the gym. I stay within appropriate calorie ranges for my body's needs. I eat nutrient dense foods.  So-- I committed to doing this beginning January 1, only allowing for two meals eaten out per week.   He told me my goal was one month, and no whining about it.  I told him my goal was 8 weeks.  By then, hopefully I will have seen enough results that it sees me through the tough work.

As I think about it, I really like his recipe analogy.  I guess that's why I keep him on as my trainer, even though I'm certified myself (and even though in true master trainer form, he makes me crazy pushes me to be excellent).  I wouldn't have ever thought about it that way.

Maybe you're having a frustrating time too.  If so, go back to your recipe.  Are you really (no... really, really... if you're brutally honest with yourself) doing everything the recipe requires?  If not, where are you cheating the yeast? Are you staying in your comfort zone at the gym, instead of pushing yourself? (You are a gym goer, right? Right?) Are you letting a craving that you have for a few minutes distract you from a goal you've had for years? Are you letting your excuses be bigger than your desire to succeed?

Yeah, losing weight and being fit is hard.  Don't make it harder by not following the recipe!

Hey: Public Service Annoucement! If you're in Franklin, NC and looking for some help getting fit, please check out my website.  I've lost 80 lbs through proper nutrition and fitness.  I've lived it.  I'm passionate about helping you reach your goals too.  Call me to schedule a complementary session.