Real change & being honest with yourself
I love the experience of being an Attune Foods brand ambassador for myriad reasons.
I’ve followed a gluten free diet for 17+ years so their gluten free cereals are a natural fit for me.
And, while my family isn’t gluten free (& without veering off into TMI-territory), digestive health and probiotic benefits are something we focus upon in our house. A lot. (Feel free to let me know if you’re interested in the TMI-blog. I’m sure that can be arranged).
In addition to being a fan of Attune products I appreciate the opportunity to write for the Attune blog. The topics we chat about here are vastly different from what I write about at my own site and it’s a different which stretches me as a writer.
When I received the email with this month’s prompt I opened it, sat with it, and was awed by its powerful simplicity. The prompt was merely two words. Two words which apply to many of us during this New Year’s resolution time and two words which completely define my life journey.
The words were real change.
Allow me to explain.
People frequently compliment my willpower. From friends in real life to blog readers I’m consistently on the receiving end of praise regarding my restraint. Most recently I was out to dinner with friends, placed my order (grilled salmon, shrimp cocktail, steamed veggies and salad) and the comments began. You have so much self-control! I wish I had your willpower! How do you do it!?
I possess no willpower. If it required willpower to live as I do (from food to fitness) that would be an indication I’m not happy with what I’m doing and bolstered by how it makes me feel. It wouldn’t be a real, permanent, sustainable change.
People frequently ask how I started a healthy lifestyle almost 2 decades years ago and haven’t slid back into old habits.
I slid.
Initially I slid a great deal.
This was mainly because my “change” had been sparked by reasons which weren’t real or lasting (boys, looks, spring break) and the result was my shift was temporary.
Spring break over? Boy’s attention snagged? I swiftly returned to old habits and all the healthy lifestyle changes I’d made vanished.
This yo-yoing of habits happened repeatedly until being honest with myself was something I recommitted to each day.
I got real with myself and uncovered the real reason I was overweight and out of shape.
I spent the time, did the work and discovered real motivation (more than bikinis and skinny jeans) to locate my healthy living path and remain on it.
I added in and slowly shifted the bulk (yes that is a high fiber diet joke) of my eating to real foods and away from processed, never perishing junk.
All of these actions conspired to result in real and lasting change. A change which requires no willpower but merely the willingness to do what’s necessary to sustain the lifestyle change I love.
What are your goals for this New Year? What actions, big or small, will you take over the next 300+ days to effect real and permanent change?
Be well!
Carla
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Jan 19, 2012 @ 03:14:00
The thing I like most about you is how real you are. I love how you don’t squash the work that you had to do to make it a permanent change. For me, this year I’m focusing on hydration! I’ve made many commitments to it in the past, but I set a goal of 3 water bottles a day and I’m sticking to it.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 03:19:00
you ROCK!
For me, this year is one of not allowing myself to slide…which I’ve sadly done plenty…I can coach others on intuitive eating, clean eating yet I myself haven’t totally followed my own advice.
This year will be different…
Jan 19, 2012 @ 03:38:00
Thanks so much for the kind words Nicole. I have so many friends who lament aging but for me it has been a tremendous gift. Im more myself and more accept myself than ever before.
AND THIS IS YOUR YEAR TARA.
I know it is because Im here to help
Jan 19, 2012 @ 03:45:00
Such a great, motivating post! I need to make a real change myself, and this may just be the motivation I need!
Jan 19, 2012 @ 03:52:00
Thank you Jodi. and it’s worth adding….needed to be added….how I admire what *youve* done as well.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 04:17:00
So true! For me, I think it did take will power at first, until I really learned and internalized that I do *want* and PREFER the healthy choices mostly because of how great they make me feel and also because of how crappy they don’t make me feel!
Jan 19, 2012 @ 04:32:00
That is a wonderful writing prompt. For me, real change came when I finally realized, “I want to feel well and move freely without all the extra weight.” Simple sounding but the trick was in understanding that I had to make certain choices to achieve my goals and I had to make them over and over and over again. Once I accepted that either way it was a choice (not discipline) it got easier. I rebel at the thought of discipline but choice….that showed me I was in control.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 04:35:00
I have to echo Nicole, one of my favorite Miz qualities is your ability to always ‘keep it real’. I wish self acceptance was something you could just rub onto those you know and love. Too many people in my life spend too much time lamenting their woes and not taking action that would make a big difference. My goal this year is to strive and be an example of self acceptance (this is indeed still a challenge some days). thank you for being a constant example for me on how to stay grounded and real in the chaos of life and a fantastic ambassador for Attune!
Jan 19, 2012 @ 05:26:00
I LOVE YOUR POSTS!!! Like you, people always comment on my willpower but I call it my life. Yes, I have discipline & willpower or WILLINGNESS as you have called it because that what it is for me, the willingness to live this lifestyle of being healthy & fit.
I slid too but more importantly I learned & keep learning!
RetroFit
Jan 19, 2012 @ 06:08:11
[...] NOTE: as I was getting ready to publish, I let it sit and went to read other blogs, here is a great post that defines self-will to make real [...]
Jan 19, 2012 @ 06:18:00
sometimes will and restraint means eating disorder…or the start of one. food for thought- pun intended.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 06:25:00
great post Carla! so true about being honest and changing habits for the long run! we love eating gluten free, it has helped our digestion therefore overall health.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 06:39:00
Although I don’t give it THAT much credit, I did/have/do resort to willpower on some level. I have to have the will to say “no”, which for me, has trained me into healthier habits in the long term. I consider willpower a lesson in developing self control. But activating willpower has slowly evolved into true desire for change, which now moves and inspires me to do what’s right for my body more than willpower ever could.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 07:20:00
I love your attitude, Carla and you’ve totally got this “real change” thing together. It all comes down to lifestyle, right? The focus shouldn’t be on willpower and preventing yourself from doing things you’d like to be doing….it’s about living the healthy lifestyle and not having those urges come over you. You are a true inspiration and thanks for spreading your positive vibes over here today.
Darryl
Jan 19, 2012 @ 09:54:00
Excellent. I know what you mean when you’re out… that look of, “what? Not just a little?” as I pull out my own chicken, or don’t order at all because I ate before we left, knowing I wouldn’t be near food I could eat. And you’re right, no willpower needed because there is no choice when you decide to be your healthiest you. It just is. Beautiful post, as always. Thank you.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 10:28:00
realness! thanks Carla, you know i love your boldness and motivation you share with us here. Take action, get real, get healthy!
Jan 19, 2012 @ 11:04:00
You can’t succeed if you are the first and only person you are lying too.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 12:08:00
Yes please – do that TMI post! I suspect it would be along the lines of some oft had conversations in Casa Waisting Time.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 12:37:00
I couldn’t agree more. I am the same exact way. It isn’t willpower, it’s me and my choice. Which for me, isn’t a choice. Willpower is doing something you don’t want to do because you think you should. I do everything I do because I WANT to.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 13:14:00
That makes so much sense. There’s so much talk about finding exercise you enjoy, but when it comes to food people focus on ‘discipline’ to eat healthy. We’ve been raised in a convenience-based society so it’s tough to think about good, healthy food. It takes time and research and a desire. I still work at not just eating the same things because they’re easy. Maybe that should be my goal this year. Plan ahead.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 16:00:00
Am I bad because I want to know what your real reason was? LOL Good for you! :) I have never tried attune I have to admit. I am not even sure all they make. I just followed your blog link over while blog hopping.
Jan 19, 2012 @ 17:05:00
Perhaps you can put the TMI blog up at your other site?
I am on a journey right now to put real and permanent change into my life, by changing how I eat – from cutting out red meat and pork, the really reading the labels of any packaged food I may buy. It’s a slow, drawn out process, but my body will thank me for it in the long run.
Jan 22, 2012 @ 22:13:00
I still need to work on getting ‘real’.
Jan 23, 2012 @ 20:19:00
This: ”
If it required willpower to live as I do (from food to fitness) that would be an indication I’m not happy with what I’m doing and bolstered by how it makes me feel.” is brilliant. It’s what people mean, I think, when they say to make it a lifestyle not a diet except that you said it 100 times better.
Jan 27, 2012 @ 23:30:00
Love all the real & positive changes that can happen when you put your mind to it. Such an empowering post!
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Feb 05, 2012 @ 11:22:53
[...] Over at the Attune blog earlier this month, MizFit posted some powerful words about real change. If you haven’t read them yet, do it. Now. This post gives me hope that someday my lifestyle [...]