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The Monday Project #1: Project “Me”

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Welcome to the first Monday Project of the Rethink Your Shrink challenge: Project “Me”!

This week, we’re going to take a look back and ask ourselves some questions, about ourselves. On account of the whole rethinking our shrinking and all. We’re going to dive right on in and figure out why we’re here right now and how we can make this journey less about weight-loss and more about the journey itself. This will be the most intensive project of the challenge, because the intent is to set you and your mind up for the next 6 weeks of the challenge. It’s so important for us to get to the root of all of the “why’s”, so this journey will end directly at the doorstep of our goal.

Because let’s face it, we’ve heard it over and over again, diets don’t work. They don’t! Diets are about eating. They’re not about this journey which encompasses our whole lives and the people in it, the outside influences, and our habits.

You can diet by cutting out everything and restricting yourself, but you will still feel deprived by food, and then food will still have control over you. This is about you taking control.

So, let’s ask the tough questions.

What about 2009 (and beyond) did not work? What were my goals? Did I fall short of achieving them? If so, why? What were my biggest obstacles? What were my patterns? What was my “rock bottom” moment? What are my bad habits? Sit down and think about each question and answer them as fully and completely as you can in your mind. Target your patterns and obstacles that have impeded your efforts in the past, the potential hazards for this time around. Is it sweets at work? No support from your family? No motivation to work out because it’s too early or too late? Eating at night? Emotional eating? Negative self-talk? Are you stuck? No time?

Then, take a look at 2009 and beyond and think about what did work. Because you don’t want to fix what ain’t broke. If something worked for you, if you felt progress somewhere, found successes, (because along the journey there are a million tiny victories, many of them non-scale related!), what were those? All of your victories are a very big deal! Give yourself a high five, out loud, to everyone!

The part three of this project is to work out those bugs from 2009. For anything that didn’t work, think about your proposed solutions to the issues. And I say “proposed” because this is all one big experiment. They could change at any time because not everything works the way you want it to. And that’s ok! This is a journey. Not an immediate fix. These things take time. This is a work in progress.

Now, go about your days this week thoughtfully, consciously and aware of all these questions and when you find yourself in a “situation” where there is the potential for your efforts to be derailed, you’ll think, “Oh yes! This is what she meant! Here’s one of those obstacles!” And if you don’t know the answer to how to fix one of your aforethought struggles and/or habits, this gives you time to find out some solutions.

And when you’re ready, sit down and write out your thoughts. You don’t have to answer each question in your post; instead, use the questions as a framework for your plan for the next six weeks. Feel free to ask yourself other questions or answer other questions. This is all about you and what’s inside that head of yours.

When I personally started the journey, I gave up at least 150 times. Then I had a “rock bottom” moment and was ready. My “rock bottom” was a picture and I cried out loud. After I began the journey, I learned that doing cardio three times a week did not aid in my weight loss, even with healthy eating. So instead I made it 5. Still nothing. Until I added weight training on two to three days. Then the magic happened. Everyone is different. That’s why this is called a journey. You learn about what works and what doesn’t. I am quite sure that we all know a lot about what doesn’t work, by now. So now we’re on the path to find out what does.

Finally, post your story, complete with a “Before Picture” (which is entirely optional. But I’ll show you mine, if you show me yours! It can be your Before, it can be your “right now” if you’re somewhere in the middle of your journey, it can be both.) And come back Friday to link up your story in the comments. And then go visit everyone!! The more we read about each other’s journey, the more we can help each other through it and reach our goals! We are all going through similar struggles, so no doubt we will be able to identify with our sisters’ experiences. And you may even be able to help someone else find a solution for their similar struggle.

So Friday’s the day to link up! Good luck on Project “Me”, sisters! And good luck throughout your week! Each day, each moment is a step closer toward your goal!

Stay tuned for next week’s project…

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Comments

  3. sadly, i have no good before and after pictures…but i'm gonna wing it.

    glad we've got until Friday to answer all these tough questions!!

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  4. Wow!! You really want us to dig deep!! What a great project to do this week!! Thanks for the challenge….

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  5. Wow – gonna make me think a lot after a week of vacation! But no time to face these questions like now!

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  6. These are tough but great questions! I really needed to be challenge to actually think it all through! This challenge is just what I've needed!

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  7. Yes!!! I've done this on a cursory level, but will dig in and get way down past the comfort zone so that I can actually make a permanent change! Great advise–I'm on it!

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  8. Wow lady, you are tough. This is going to be really difficult but this is why it WILL work. I'll admit I'm scared to answer the tough questions. I really am. But I will. I have to do this. It's not about a diet or being skinny. (Although I'd be lying if I said I didn't wanna be skinny…) It's about being healthy from the inside out. I need to get to that place deep inside me with all the answers. I'm glad I have a few days to do this because it's going to be an intense time of self-reflection (for me, anyway).

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  9. What a first Project Monday project! To boldly go where I have not gone before… inside to face some harsh truths and also to remember those glimpses of small victories. I'm thinking that for starters, I will print out the first Project Monday post and start a whole new journal notebook that lets me express the all of it all — the good the bad and the ugly and to have the post printed out to re-read as needed throughout the day.

    I am ready for this!!!! And I KNOW everyone here is too : )
    I look forward to reading your Friday stories and rejoicing in our successes.

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  10. (PS.. i am still getting the hang of learning my way around and posting… bear with me if I end up in the wrong place now and then : ) )

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  11. I'm so glad this isn't due till Friday. We are involved in a wake and funeral the next few days, so I don't see myself getting to this till at least Wednesday night.

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  12. You know what. I so wish I had a before picture. But I can't find one! Ugh.

    I am loving this project. I can't wait until Friday.

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  17. It's all about saying bye bye to the comfort zone, you're exactly right! I think someone great (Lissa) posted a quote this week that I loved, it was, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” Or something like that.

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  18. I know, it's kind of a lot to look at, it's going to take me a few days too! I'm glad you all are up for it, I think we all want this time to be the last time!!

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  19. My head hurts from the thought of all that thinking, lol. Actually, I have already given some thought to what worked for me in 2009 and what obstacles I faced (and still face). This is such a great idea!

    Reply

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