WEEK 6: Lose 10 lbs in 10 weeks

Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay in posting Week 6. Sometimes Blogger can be a bit ornery and doesn't post as it's scheduled...

Welcome to Week 6 of our little weight loss challenge. How are you doing? Are you halfway to your goal? Have you lost 5 lbs or more? If so, good for you. Keep doing what you're doing. No? Then you're in good company. I'm down 4 lbs. My diet is pretty good, but I haven't been working out as much as I should be. That darn day job just keeps getting in the way. Plus an injured foot. But those are excuses. Let's quit giving ourselves excuses and just do it. We know what to do.

This week is all about motivation. Excuse me for a moment while I put on my cheerleader uniform. I was never a cheerleader so I'll have to borrow my sister's old one. Hmm. It's a bit tight. She's one of those teensy, tiny, single-digit-sized people that we pretend not to hate.... Okay. The uniform doesn't fit, so I'll just use the pom poms. Ready?

First of all, ask yourself: Do I really want to lose this weight? Really? Make sure this is truly your goal, something you're doing for yourself and not because you think you "should" or because your significant other made a comment or just because you want to fit into some pants you haven't worn in years. So? Is this really your goal? Okay, good.

Now ask yourself: Do my actions match my goal? Do your actions every day support the goal of losing weight? Are you choosing an apple over a donut? Are you avoiding junk food? Are you breaking a sweat almost every day? You know what you should be doing. Are you doing it? If not, why not?

Let's get new-agey (is that a word?) for a moment. Here's an exercise: Sit in a comfortable position, relax and close your eyes. Imagine going to Conference in about 4 weeks at the weight you are right now (or imagine some other event in the future). Really picture yourself there. Picture the details, what you're wearing, how your hair looks, everything. Do you see yourself? How do you feel? Are you mad at yourself for not working the diet or exercise harder?

Now, imagine yourself at Conference with those 10 lbs off your body. Do you see yourself? How do you feel? Do you feel more confident, more energetic? Just all around better?

Now, psychoanalyze yourself. Do you feel a huge difference between the two scenarios? No? Then, don't worry about it. If you lose some weight, great. But if not, that's okay, too. But if the second scenario makes you feel so much more positive, then do yourself a favor. Spend these next few weeks eating really clean and breaking a good sweat almost every day.

Do it for yourself.

Rah. Rah. Rah!