Week #9

Change or die.

    This was the exact title of a study done in the late 90’s on a test group of senior citizens with chronic illnesses. In the study, at risk patients were taken into to the study and offered the best medical care money could buy. Medications, palliative care, physiotherapy, preventative programming and even operations were performed over a 2 year time span. To no surprise 95% of the study group benefited from the expertise and began to live a healthy lifestyle.

At the end of the study group, they were all provided with instruction on how to continue to build on the healthy habits they had been supported with and then followed over an additional 3 year period of time. Unfortunately, at the conclusion of the study, it was found only 2% of people changed their lifestyles in accordance with the advice and information provided. The rest, returned to the very habits that compromised their health in the 1st place. This margin was corroborated in related studies quantifying people’s ability to change. 2%

Why is this the topic of conversation this week? Surface level, it doesn’t appear to be motivational.
The answer is threefold.

1. Understand the reality change isn’t easy. The reason it’s not easy is because of the amount of time spent developing poor habits. Often, people will have developed these habits over an extended period of time (30+years), yet the expectation is these will be managed through a 1-3 month resolution. Few people even make it through 90 days which means they are giving themselves even less of a chance. Our take away is this: Purdy’s pledge is THE START of your journey.
2. Understand how to take responsibility for yourself. It’s one thing to have some one else call you on the excuses you make, remind you of the importance of you putting yourself 1st, and guide you to the keys to success time management / goal setting around cardio / strength training & nutrition, but ultimately you have to assume 100% responsibility for doing this for yourself – by yourself
3.  
4. Statistically, not all of you will be successful in maintaining healthy habits you have started here. Something else in your life will change and you will focus on that over yourself... rationalizing that as a wise decision. I’ll never forget the Jack Lalland interview where he asked the interviewer

• JL: would you take $500k for your arm 
• I: no
• JL: how about 2.2 million for you leg.
• I: not a chance  
• JL: so taking your body parts are not worth any amount of money in the world
• I: no
• JL: ok, let me ask you how much you’ve invested in the preservation of your body in the last year?
• is it more than the poisons you put in it?
• is it more than dinners out?
• is it more than your car or hobby?
• if you believe your body is such a valued asset – why do you make no efforts to invest & re-invest in it. 
• point made

Understand these facts. 

1. obesity leads to disease
2. disease leads to chronic illness
3. chronic illness left untreated leads to death

knowing all 4 of you, I can bluntly share two facts you all probably aware of;

1. You are all prime candidates for heart attacks if you don’t continue to treat yourself well.
2. You are all intelligent and capable enough not to let this happen.

This, although it may seem to be morose – is your reality.

On the great news side – 2 of the 5 of your homework questions were answered well and are below.

What they illustrate is the fact that starting new habits, requires stopping old habits. Habits are mental, not just physical – so simply focusing on the what & how is only 66.6% of the entire equation and the #1 reason people fail at their attempts to live a healthy life.

WHY is the missing 33%.

Why do I over eat? Why do I not put myself 1st? Why do I make excuses for not being a good example? Why, why, why, why, why.
If you don’t address why with the what and how – the exercise becomes irrelevant (and short lived) and you become the 98% who never change.

What I learned.

• So what did I learn in 8 weeks after coming into this half assed and just going along with the program, I didn’t follow everything to a tee and I haven’t lost all I thought I would but I have a pride that I haven’t felt in a long long time, I am carrying myself in a different way, I am dressing in a different way, I am caring about myself in a different way.  I am taking small steps and I know I can do this for the long run and I know I will continue to take the steps that I need and want to make this change stick.  So what did I learn mentally….
• You can be replaced.
• You should be celebrated.
• Some people know you better than you know yourself, be open to it.
• Find someone and vent when you need to vent even if you think its not what they want to hear or need to hear.
• You are responsible for yourself and your actions your choices are your own. 
• You own your failures and your celebrations.  You learn from both and you grow.
• It is not just about losing your physical weight but also the weight of denial, of guilt, of shame, of anguish, of fear of anger and of letting it all go and be done with it.
• If you don’t look out for yourself nobody else will…it should be your most important priority.
• Plan ahead, even the little things…keep at it.
• It isn’t about judgement it is about looking around and realizing you aren’t alone
• My thinking and my children’s thinking and language has changed we all get exhilarated about walking down town, even being aware what we are eating and why…is the greatest gift in this whole thing.
• Not only has some weight come off but I have gotten things done that I was putting off, I have gotten rid of stuff, bags and bags of stuff.  I am following a calendar which I haven't done in years...insane I know.
• I realize the importance of saying what I feel even thought I think it makes someone else uncomfortable …what a high… its so simple but what a high.

What I learned.

• I learned that I should use the fact that I am a person of routine to my advantage but have the consciousness to break the routine when I get back into my unhealthy habits.
• I learned that I can't work towards a date or event to lose weight or get in shape, but I that I should make it a part of life as my health is important.