Starting off Strong [Day 1]

I woke up at 8:30 this morning and headed straight for the treadmill. It's only Day 1 but I've already determined a couple of key concepts to not forget throughout this 70-day journey. That's right: I've decided to set a timeline and my end date lands on the first day of spring break. Creating a timeline is one of my key concepts to include in my personal plan which I've decided to title: Getting Right in 2012 (#GR2012). So, here's my developing philosophy which will determine my success during the next 70 days.

I just mentioned creating a timeline and schedule. It's not that I'll completely stop after the next 70 days - I'll just reassess and readjust my plan (just in time for Lent). This will give me something to work toward and look forward to while I'm pushing through. After all, my dad always said, "You can do anything for a little while." With the timeline, I can anticipate days that I may need a break (such as our vacation to Disney tomorrow or 100 Days til Graduation Day at school).

Another important initial step is to set clear goals. This doesn't just include how much I want to lose and by when - it should include reasons why. I'm still working on developing these goals for my personal journal, but my main reason is to gain a sense of self-control before I embark on the real world after college. If I start good habits now, I'll just be maintaining them when I go solo.

Evade the hunger monster at all costs, because once he emerges it's a wrap. My self-resolve is only so strong when it comes to food. Therefore, everything I worked for is subject to be thrown away with the foil wrapper of one cheddar-style Cook Out burger. This explains my bad eating habits in the first place, because at school I usually wait (unintentionally) to eat until about 6 p.m. So once 6 p.m. rolls around I'm craving something starchy, cheesy and definitely greasy. And not to mention the stress of the day leading me to a fruity cocktail at an Abuelos Happy Hour. If I can maintain my control and peace of mind by including breakfast into my day and keeping healthy snacks and a motivational mantra at hand, I should be able to hold the hunger monster at bay. I don't eat a lot, it's just what I eat and how often I eat that is the issue.

With the help of Google Docs, I'm going to record, record, record. Everything from my mood each day, to what goes in my mouth to the amount of exercise I accomplished. This will help me to stay on track and monitor what I'm doing over the couse of the journey.

It's unrealistic to say that there won't be bad days (sick days, running late days). But I've promised myself that I'll decide if it's a bad day once in the gym. If I can make it to the gym before I decide if I can make it through another workout or not, then I'm much more likely to push through than if I was deciding in bed. If the day really is too "off" to dedicate even 30 min. on the treadmill, then I'll turn around once I'm in the gym.

Positive self-talk is key. Our biggest critic, distractor and enemy is our own mind. We tell ourselves, "Is this thirty minutes on the treadmill even doing anything in the long run?" "I've never been able to do this successfully before, what makes this time different?" "What's one day off really going to hurt?" Our minds can be toxic to our success. That's why I'm developing a mantra and vision board that will keep me going when my negative inner voice emerges. I'm also planning to record the negative thoughts to keep track of them. After all, once I confront and address the thoughts head-on, what do I really have holding me back? I was encouraged by a Huffington Post article that I read yesterday. It emphasizes the power of self-talk towards inner peace which, for me, is the ultimate goal.

One of the most important concepts, in my opinion, is to share the journey. That's what I'm planning to do through my blog and by partnering up. From gym partners to cafeteria partners to inspirational coaches to my blog readers, I know that I'll need all the help I can get. As much as it may annoy us, people hold us accountable for what we say we want. I plan to involve as many people as I can to keep me in check when I start to slack.

69 days to go. This will be a piece of (low-cal) cake.