Snowball

I've noticed something lately.  I started out wanting to lose weight.  Then I began to exercise.  Then I began to eat healthier.  Then I wanted to keep the house cleaner, and take care of myself better.  My life is so different than it was before I started all of this in May.

Good choices, those that have a positive impact, lend themselves to other good choices.

Every time I make a positive choice, no matter how tiny that step is, it is easier to make another.  And then another.  I am EMPOWERED by them.  And those choices snowball.  And they catch others up with them.  I CAN change others, simply by choosing to change myself.

Every choice has two options - a positive and a negative.  I can choose the negative, the immediate gratification, the easy way, which so often leads to a downward spiral of every choice being made for the negative.

Or I can push to choose the positive.  A little work, a little willpower.  And then keep going.  Every little step counts.

Today, I had half the coffee flavoring I usually do.  80 calories changed to 40.  A miniscule step in the scope of 1850 calories.  But it is the inner kernel of the snowball

Great post and definitely something to think about!!  :-)

Yes, it is amazing how you make yourself stronger and better all the time!

I hear ya - I call it "baby steps".  It  takes work, effort and commitment but it's worth it.  I feel more accomplished when I push myself to do the things (I feel) I should be doing and, you're right, it's empowering too - makes you think you can do even more.

Aw, that's a nice thought. :)

When you eat better, you feel better. When you move, you're more motivated. At least, that's how it is for me. I got my workout and grocery shopping done before I even got to work this morning, haha. Before I started trying to lose weight, I never would've thought about getting anything done before work! It just feels good to be productive and have things accomplished.

Seriously this is so true. I've been doing better with my eating and exercise, and last night I came home and cranked out my studying (and my test isn't even until Friday-I never do these things haha) before bed. I get so much more done when I'm on a role. It literally becomes easier somehow. Meaning I now need to choose to get off of my computer and do a little homework before bed! Thanks for the motivation haha

My snowball hit a rock yesterday afternoon and exploded.

But, I'm building the inner kernel again today.

That´s what I call a "virtuous circle", as opposed to a "vicious circle", which pulls us down.

Amazing, isn't?

This is very inspiring. Thank you for sharing! I will try to incorporate this mindset into my own life.

I couldn't have said it better myself--and have actually been experiencing some of the same. I have only lost 10 pounds--and still have 30 to go...but the experience is definitely about much more than that. I started noticing the difference in my energy/attitude after losing only 4-7 pounds. Thanks for sharing your story and putting into words what I'm sure many of us are feeling.

Original Post by anabia:

That´s what I call a "virtuous circle", as opposed to a "vicious circle", which pulls us down.

Thanks for the new aphorism!  I am adding it to my list of things to remember like:

• The time will pass anyway, may as well be getting thinner.
• As long as it takes.
• Small (consistent) changes make big differences (in the long run).
• It's not an option to ... (skip my workout, overeat, whatever)
• Yesterday is over, live today, tomorrow will take care of itself.

And now, every good choice leads to another good choice, it is a virtuous circle.

That is a good example of how we change the future. You see, only the past predicts the future and does so in the form of habits. So, to change the future, we must change our past. And the way to change the past, is to make the positive choices in the present. Soon, the present becomes the past - so now we have a past with a 'positive' slant - and finally this positive past predicts the positive future!  Thus....your snowball! Nice.

I've noticed this works the other way around for me too.  If I stay in pajamas all day on the weekend I don't feel like making an effort in anything, but if I get up early, workout, get dolled up, I feel more like making an effort to eat healthfully and round out the day right.  I totally agree that the more good choices you make, the easier they become.  I like to think that losing weight is 1,000 small decisions, not one big decision.

I noticed this too.  Its a matter of what I'm now willing to accept from myself, and that bar gets higher every day.

This would be so much easier for people to start doing if there was a way to adequately describe how much improved your life gets.

Original Post by 5togo:

I've noticed this works the other way around for me too.  If I stay in pajamas all day on the weekend I don't feel like making an effort in anything, but if I get up early, workout, get dolled up, I feel more like making an effort to eat healthfully and round out the day right.  I totally agree that the more good choices you make, the easier they become.  I like to think that losing weight is 1,000 small decisions, not one big decision.

I completely agree with you on this.  When I started, I thought I had to make huge changes in my life, since I had so much weight to lose.  But instead, I just made 1 small change at a time, and now (after 10 months) I am halfway to goal, and have many, many new (good) habits.  Consistent small changes do as much or more than 1 big change that is hard to stick to (for me).

I love your post, I am in the need of an inner snowball! I was slacking in life and for the last week have been picking up the pieces and going slow and it works. I am happier, I am stronger, I have done all my workouts that I planned to do.... eating well. Some how living a healthy life comes all together even when you may not notice it at first.

Cheers to the inner snowball!

I too must agree with the "good morning=good day"  Of course if given the option to stay in bed under the warmth of the covers for another few "minutes" (or hours!) is temporarily satisfying, it uses up time that could be well-spent for the day. Nothing feels better knowing that you don't  have to try to find a time slot or wait until after work/school and tiringly climb upon the "butt-kicking machine" !

I always make it a priority to work out everyday, and the a.m is the most preferable. Wake up, work out, classes, come home to dinner (perhaps a recipe I thought of while working out!), dog, lovely fiance and the cozy warm blanket feeling he brings back from that morning :]