Are you ready?
I might catch some slack for this weeks question(s) but I don’t care. I need to ask not only you but also myself.
It’s a simple yet complex question, “Are you ready?”
Are you ready to live a healthier lifestyle?
Are you ready to make the harder choices that lifestyle may entail?
Are you ready to plan, think, prepare, shop, and not just grab a donut on the way to work?
Are you ready to shut off the TV and go outside for a walk?
Are you ready to seek out the staircase instead of taking the elevator?
Are you ready to admit to yourself you eat too much?
Are you ready to tell yourself hunger is not an emergency or an excuse?
Are you ready to face your feelings instead of shoving them down with a slice of pizza?
Are you ready to stop trying to do it all and get more sleep?
Are you ready to try new foods you’ve dismissed because you “don’t eat vegetables”?
Are you ready to love yourself NOW, unconditionally?
Are you ready to be the example, the motivator, the exception to the rule?
I really could go on and on. My point with this question is to get us thinking, really thinking about what it takes lose weight and keep it off. It’s not easy for everyone. Everything seems to be working against us. It’s easier to take the elevator then the stairs. It’s easier to say yes to the daily office danish then pack your own snack. It’s easier to run through a drive through then go home and cook dinner. I’m not saying you can never do the easy things again, but overall you have to make the harder choices. You have to be READY to make the harder choices.
So I ask…
Are you Ready?
And if so…
What are you ready to do?
P.S.I came up with this question this morning in the shower. Today there were at least 3 “hard” choices I had to make where I asked myself this question. It helped immensely and got me running on the treadmill, skipping the cookie at work, and deciding to make dinner instead of taking the toddler to Wendy’s. That’s why I decided to ask tonight.
Add on: I just asked myself again and avoided that before bed snack I’ve been getting used to. I am ready. :~)
Update 1/11/11: Comments are closed. Please visit the new discussion by clicking here.
23 Responses to Are you ready?
BlogToLose
What's Cooking in my kitchen?
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Leftover brown rice and leftover sauce meet in this quick lunch idea inspired by my favorite food of all time: Pizza. I swear I can turn anything into a pizza concoction. Have you seen all my pizza ideas? I've used everything from pumpkin to zucchini, polenta to wontons. Nothing is off [...] -
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About Roni
Roni started this blog in '05 to journal her weight loss. 70lbs later, she's committed to living a conscious, healthy life and hopes to inspire others along the way. Read more on the about page.
Love, LOVE this question.
YES! I AM ready!
It’s easy to sit around and be fat. To each Wendy’s instead of cooking. To take the elevator instead of the stairs. But we can do it!
I slacked some last week or two but I am back and I can do it. I am ready!
I love your question. It fit right in with the night I had tonight! I love reading your posts. Thanks so much for sharing your journey. How do I generate traffic to my page? I’d like to get more familiar with people on here and for this to serve as a support system for MY journey.
NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I am not ready.
I got together with friends tonight, and there was the most eclectic mix of the best worst kind of junk food. Cream Puffs, Pocky, and home brew beer all made an appearance and I am tooooo weeeaaak to resist.
I loved this posting.
I think of being READY as having GO TO things ready and available in my life. Someone might look at them as habits. But actually these are concrete GO TO things that support my healthiness and my habits. Cooked lean meats ready in the freezer. Fresh and flash frozen fruits and veggies. My exercise gear. My list of exercises so that NO MATTER WHAT the weather or circumstances bring – my exercise gets done every day. My filled pill box.
I don’t get up and re-invent the wheel every day. I have my GO TO things/habits – and that means I am not only READY – I am moving forward.
YES! I am READY!
This is a good question. It’s something we face daily. And, for me it means making the right choices.
Monday, I tried on some of the clothes I had packed away that no longer fit. I was able to fit in the next size down and so pulled them out of the box. I then put my larger clothes in the box. My struggle was do I keep them just in case? Clothes are so expensive to replace! But, I decided….I am NOT going to gain that weight back and so, today they are in the car on the way to the Salvation Army!
Also, yesterday, I was out running errands and had tossed my gym bag in the car fully intending to stop on the way home. It was so glorius out, I was all clean and dressed up and thought, nah, I’ll skip it today…but the closer I got the more I thought about it. And, so I went to my workout.
So yes, I am ready and making the right choices is what it’s all about!
As my WW leader said last week…it’s simple, but not easy! That’s become my mantra!
Tammy (otherwise known as “Anonymous”)
Hi Roni. This post comes at such a great time in my journey. I have recently re-started my WW journey with a great new approach and outlook and YES YES YES I am ready for everything that goes along with it! I recently started a blog on the community boards and have found an enormous amount of support there! LOVE IT!
I am totally ready!
All my life (I think) I have had a binge/emotional eating problem. Until recently I didn’t even realize it. It has derailed all (until now) my attempts at losing weight and being healthy. I’ve lost about 50lbs, but still have about 25lbs left to go. These 25lbs have evaded me for several years, I just keep losing and gaining the same 10lbs.
Since finding your site about 2 weeks ago, I have made some changes and have more motivation than ever to overcome my eating issues.
I’ve started journaling daily as an outlet for my emotions, instead of binging. I go to the gym 5 times a week (been doing that for 4+ years). I am cooking all your recipes and won’t stop until I’ve tried each one at LEAST once! I even sing motivational songs to myself in the shower and car to keep a positive mind set.
So, I am ready! I’ve been 5 days binge-free (for someone that knows about binging, even 5 days is a lot!) I am happier and have begun a whole new lifestyle of cooking, eating and being healthy.
Thank you Roni for your website, which is a great motivation!
I have been maintaining for 7 months….and if I may steel the quote it is still simple but definately not easy…. But I am also ready! I have also learned to be ready to make a mistake and not beat myself up about it. I am ready to get back in the game after my mistake and take control back. I am ready to change my behavior by thinking differently about myself. Actually believing in ME!!! Why is that so hard????
Thanks Roni….You make it easier to believe in ourselves.
IT’S NOT EASY! But I’m ready, damn it. I am ready.
This is SUCH a great question!!…because sometimes I think we all feel frustrated (at least I do!!) that even though it’s so good for you, we’re not just *sliding* into the healthy lifestyle. You gotta work for it … and love it! :)
I am ready! I have been ready since starting WW last August 8th. I’m not sure why it’s been fairly easy for me this time (it never has been before), but I do definitely think it’s because I have kept myself “ready”. I plan, I cook, I exercise, I keep my commitments, I grocery shop for the right foods, I bring my own snacks to events where there will be unhealthy foods. And I resist the resistance I get from others, who it iritates that I am planning, and doing so well. And yes, I have come across a LOT of resistance from others near me. I’ve lost 67.4 pounds and have 25 to go, to get to goal. And I am going to make it! I also continually tell myself that this (what I have been doing since August) is how I’m going to continue to live my life. Once I’m at goal, I will eat a few of those favorite foods, but mostly, I will continue to eat the healthy foods that I have been eating since August. And if I continue to be “ready”, I can do it! I am ready!
If you had asked this in January, I would have said no I’m not ready.
I had a baby in the fall and just could not get out of my funk. I kept saying I would start in January, but it didn’t happen.
I started having heart palpitations and realized I needed to make some serious changes in my life. I hated what I was becoming.
In mid-February everything just clicked and I knew it was time to start losing weight. I am down 19.4lbs and have about 25 more to go. I will get there, because I am ready.
Great questions!
Im in it. Ive been maintaining for two years and every day is a ready day- its all in your control, you can do it, just think consciously and make better choices. For me, it does mean never do those things again. I hit the gym 5 days per week and constantly pushing the limit and changing it up. I ALWAYS pack things to bring with me to eat so I am in control all the way (control freak!) YOU CAN DO IT, BE READY!!!!
LOVE this question! It came at the absolute perfect time for me. I’ve blogged about it, too.
http://www.thedailymel.com
Long time lurker, first time commenter!
I haven’t been “ready” for a long time, but I still tried. Right now I *am* ready; like someone else said I’ve automated a lot of what I do (breakfast, snacks, shopping, scheduled gym time) and I’ve taken “thinking” out of the equation: Just Do It Anyway is my current mantra.
I’m also celebrating my successes (5 weeks going to the gym, 1 month On Plan, doing X when I don’t want to, etc), and that was something that I *wasn’t* ready to do for a long time. I think that may be why I’m successful now!
This is such a great question!
I know from all of the times I tried and failed and then FINALLY succedded at losing weight, that until you are 100% ready, there is no point.
Now, how to get 100% ready, I still couldn’t tell you.
Roni,
I just wanted to let you know that I’ve been lurking on your site for months and it’s become part of my routine. There are so many days that you keep me going and focused in the right direction. thanks so much for this wonderful, wonderful site. You’re the woman!
Kelly
I’m finally ready and on my way! :)
I am ready to admit that I am not perfect, but that I AM CAPABLE of achieving those things that I want to achieve. I am ready to admit and own the idea within myself that I am worthy of taking care of myself and loving myself for all that I am.
-Maryann
I would like to think that I’m ready, but I find myself struggling every day. I’ve realized that I am, quite possibly, addicted to fast food. I am trying to go one month without it and see how I feel. I’ve always gone the day of weigh in, as my “treat” if I lost weight. Not a good idea!
My husband has likened it to smoking. Something very bad for you, and hard to quit. He already quit smoking a couple years ago, now it’s my turn to quit my only “vice”. *sigh*
(i think i’m ready)
I just discovered your blog, and I just wanted to say you’re doing a good thing here. Thanks!
Darn right I’m ready!
Very true! I think that I will print this off and put it in my wallet.