Structured approach

BugDude

New member
There are obviously many driven and goal oriented people here working very hard to achieve desired results. I thought I would share an approach I heard today that can be applied to this journey as well as other aspects of life. This was originally presented in the context of a spiritual journey, but it can be applied to most aspects of life.

1) First, develop a "TO-BE" list rather than a "to-do" list. List out what it is you want TO BE. Your heart's desires for what you most want to be. Perhaps it is a healthier person, physically fit, better sleeper, etc. A successful plan necessitates CLEAR OBJECTIVES. Once you have a good idea of what elements make up what you want to be, you can develop a plan of actoins to get there...the "to-do" list.

2) Now, the "to-do" requires ADVANCE DECISIONS. It's not enough to PLAN to take certain actions (i.e. exercise, eat according to a certain idea of calories, proteins, carbs, etc) to be successful you need to make advance decisions to do them. You decide ahead of time that you are going to exercise 1st thing in the mornings and you set your clock for 5:30 am every night. You have your exercise clothes ready, your routine determined, and you make it happen by making the decision ahead of time that it will happen. Rather than hope you stick to your dietary/nutritional plan, you make the day's plan out the night before, you prepare items, snacks, etc. to fit into your plan and you take them to work with you. The decision is made in advance and you equip yourself with the items you need to stick to it.

3) Plan for REWARDS. This process revolves around the principles of discipline. Work into your plan ways to reward yourself on a regular basis accordingly. This provide positive reinforcement to yourself and recognition of a job well done. It also gives you something to look forward to and work towards as you go.


This was part of a spiritual radio show that was talking about an approach to life, but it really resonated with me that this could be applied to any aspect of life, including fitness and weight loss. I hope it helps.
 
Hey BugDude,

That's a really great approach that you've listed there...and I can think of so many aspects of my life that I could apply that too. I especially like starting off with a "TO BE" list...i think that gets you into the right positive focus before starting on your path.

Just curious, do you think you'll be utilizing this approach in your life? :)
 
I like that....TO BE....thinking, thinking and more thinking! Thanks for the advice.
-Good Luck, BugDude
 
Hey BugDude,

That's a really great approach that you've listed there...and I can think of so many aspects of my life that I could apply that too. I especially like starting off with a "TO BE" list...i think that gets you into the right positive focus before starting on your path.

Just curious, do you think you'll be utilizing this approach in your life? :)

I actually aproached my journey much this way by listing out my motivations first and making some non-number related goals first. I also make meal plans the night before for the next day (advance decisions) and set my alarm for 6 to exercise in the mornings. I hadn't really thought about it in these terms, but I certainly recognized the paralells.

From other aspects of my life, yes, I do intend to incorporate these principles. The last several years I've had more of a spiritual renewal in my life. The birth of our son was nothing short of a miracle and it really put things into perspective for me. In a parable, a man was in heaven before The Lord and asked him why he never blessed him with a wife, children, etc. The Lord answered, "You never asked." Now, that's an overly simplistic version, but I approached quitting anxiety medication, smoking, and drinking through prayer and for the first time it worked. I've certainly done the same with this journey and I'm off to a good start. For me, there's something to it. The approach above just helps me put some framework around it.
 
I actually saw a study done on the 'pre-decide' part. It was more about rehab - and the people who had to schedule their walk at a certain time had faster recovery times than people who were just told "Walk for 30 minutes 3 times a week". Because as it turns out, deciding in advance when and what took away some of the impediments and tendency toward procrastination.

I know if I tell myself "I'll go to the gym three times a week" it's a different story from "I'm going Monday, & Thursday at 7PM and Saturday right after breakfast with my friend." Trying to use that in more of my life because I'm bad with procrastination ;)
 
I cannot stress how important #2 has been to me in my weight loss. Planning meals for the week that are healthy and low calorie and then getting all the ingredients for them beforehand so I don't have to worry about what to make when I get home from work and am grumpy and get fast food instead. Packing my lunch the night before so I am not tempted to go out to lunch. Setting a training schedule so I can meet my workout goals (the half marathon in May and Pelotonia in August). It gets to the point where I'm so used to doing things the right way (eating right, working out) that it takes more effort to go off plan. And when I can't follow my plan (because I'm sick or have another engagement that interrupts my workouts) I get upset about it.

The rest of the list is good. But #2 is awesome.
 
I agree blue. Advance decisions and detail plans are the key for me as well. If I don't do that and just hope I do well for the day...it just doesn't work as well for me. This is something I'm trying to incorporate into other aspects of work and life.
 
Ahaha. There is one place where being a procrastinator pays off. I often find if I haven't pre-planned meals and don't have something defrosted to make I'll just nuke some tilapia loin or have a protein drink and go to bed mildly hungry :p Because going out to the store and getting junk would be as much effort as buying more meat (although CostCo's rotisserie chickens rock) to cook, so I just put it off until the next day.
 
I decided that if I'm going to procrastinate, then dammit... I'm going to use it to my own advantage!

After all, I can always wait to get the donut from the office offerings... I can delay going to a fast food place... Of course, that means I have to have quick & easy things to substitute at home - but frozen tilapia loins are easy keepers. Frozen veggies don't (often) need to be tossed... Work smarter, not harder ;)

It also helps that CostCo with it's rotisserie chicken is closer and cheaper than any fast food joint.
 
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