It’s New Year’s! Time for Resolutions…and a Second Grade Math Lesson? By Dr. Laura Triplett

It’s New Year’s!  Time for Resolutions…and a Second Grade Math Lesson?

By Dr. Laura Triplett

 

Mrs. Mackowen was my second grade teacher.  Now, she’s little more than a blurry memory, but some of the things I learned in her class continue to find use and purpose some 23 years later.  For instance, simple division.  Learning how to divide four by two or twenty by five has come in handy innumerable times, but never is simple division more relevant than during New Year’s. 

 

Right now, we’re surrounded by three types of people:  First, there are those who are casually tossing around lofty resolutions that we all know are totally bogus, albeit well-intentioned (you just gotta love someone who honestly believes and wholeheartedly pledges to become fluent in Chinese, become a professional Irish high-stepper and join Michael Flatley’s dance troupe, take a summer tour of America’s national parks (becoming a professional conservationist along the way), and forgo cheese…and trust me, I do believe I’ll be able to accomplish all of this).  Second, we have those who make resolutions with such seriousness that if you even dare to question the feasibility of said resolutions, the resolver will, quite literally, burst into flames (not surprisingly, I do become irritable when someone questions my potential capability for high-stepping).  And finally, there are the realists (or you might consider them the party poopers) who refuse to even acknowledge that we’ve entered into a new year, let alone resolve to do or become something different (Greg, are you reading this?  In all fairness, there’s no need to change when you’re already perfect).

 

But, let’s get back to Mrs. Mackowen’s simple division and what role it plays in kicking-off 2009.  Most of us go overboard with our resolutions.  The majority of New Year’s resolutions are about eating less, exercising more, getting in shape or looking better.  These resolutions typically come in the form of, “I resolve to lose 100 pounds!” or “I will exercise for two hours every day!” or “I’ll never order dessert again!” or “I resolve to be back to the same size I wore in high school by summer!”  No doubt, these are winning resolutions, but they are not realistic.  By mid-January – and that’s giving the benefit of the doubt – these resolutions have done nothing other than give a swift kick to our self-esteem.  Not only did we jump ship when it came to working toward our goals, but worse than that, we beat ourselves up for resolving to do things we knew we could not possibly do.  Too bad we didn’t resolve to set ourselves up for failure.  That’s one resolution at which we all could succeed!

 

But, hang on.  Hope is far from lost.  It’s still early January and if you are holding out hope to make your resolutions a reality employ simple division.  That’s right, divide each resolution by half (or more, if necessary).  If you said you would lose 100, turn it into 50.  If you said you would exercise two hours every day, go with one hour three times a week.  If you said you would become fluent in Chinese, enroll in Berlitz and pick up enough of the language to sound as though you’ve just returned from some totally glamorous humanitarian mission.  Learn to high-step to the point that your Dad will say, next time he’s watching the Irish dance PBS special, that “you should really be up on that stage!” 

 

Resolutions are mostly fun, but they can also be meaningful and achievable.  This year, resolve to set yourself up for success, instead of failure.  Think of Mrs. Mackowen and her simple division.  And then, when you surpass the low-bar you’ve set for yourself, just think about how good you’re going to feel when you “casually” (i.e., forcefully) mention to everyone you know (and strangers, too) that you resolved to “lose a few,” but you obviously didn’t recognize your own potential and motivation because you are already well past that meager resolution you set back at the start of the year.  “I’ve learned my lesson about expecting too little from myself,” you’ll say in an oh-so-casual tone, “Next year, I’m going to make my resolutions more reflective of my strong willpower and endless capabilities.”

Why the “Me” in “I’m doing this for me” is Key — By Dr. Laura Triplett

Him.  Her.  Them.  Us.   Most people are motivated to change who they are for someone else.  And that’s just not right.  Ever decreasingly, the phrase “I’m doing this for me” is uttered and when it is, it is often said with guilt, insincerity, and irritation.  Guilt for daring to be “selfish” enough to take the time to do something for yourself; insincerity because you know that this urge to change came from an external rather than an internal need; and irritation from being put in a situation where change is a requirement to fulfill someone or something’s expectations.

So, what’s wrong with saying what you mean and meaning what you say when it comes to proclaiming, “I’m doing this for me?”  Absolutely nothing.  In fact, when we actually do something for ourselves we become better people.  Any effort that is made under the auspices of bettering yourself because you genuinely want to be better is like a gift to humankind.  Wouldn’t it be wonderful if our society was one comprised of people who better themselves — becoming the people they truly want to be – because it is their desire to do so and not just a response to what others think they should do?

When you talk about personal change, any endeavor that you want to be successful has to begin with the phrase, “I’m doing this for me.”  Because if you’re doing it for any other person or worse, because you think it’s what society expects of you, then the journey becomes a fight and success, an infinite burden.  But when you really want to do something — and you do it because the very thought of it makes you desperate with anticipation and excitement — then you know you’re truly doing it for yourself.

Physical change doesn’t come easy, but the difficulty of it is made ever so sweeter when you remember “I’m doing this for me.”

The View From The Top

Well this week with summer like tempatures blazing outside…wildflowers blooming all over…and an extra hour of daylight to work with…I thought I would talk about getting outside and doing one of my favorite activities!  For me hiking is about getting outside…being in nature…exploring and experiencing new challenges.  It is a gift because you earn your views…you go where only those that braved the hike along with you get to go. 

So when I say “hiking” or “outdoors” are many of you getting scared and envisioning a buggy, hot, dusty, sweaty mess of an afternoon out?  I can understand…I used to be someone who would have rather been in an air-conditioned movie theatre watching aliens blow up the earth than doing pretty much anything outside.  I had no idea what REI was (which if you still aren’t sure- it’s a store that is the holy land for outdoor enthusiasts).  I really never thought of myself as an “outdoors type person”…that is until I traded my flip flops for hiking boots…my popcorn and Milk Duds for trail mix…and hit the hiking trails!  Funny enough some of this motivation for hiking came from going to REI.  Several years ago- I wandered around the store one afternoon wondering what in the heck people did with all of the equipment that I saw for sale there (some of which was totally unidentifiable to me).  And it got me thinking…”what am I missing here”?  As I watched all of the people buzzing around the store and picking up maps…backpacks…hiking shoes…and talking about the places they were going and have been- they sounded so excited…like they couldn’t wait to get out of the store and onto their destination!  The excitement and pure passion was fascinating to me. 

However- in my world hiking at 350 pounds didn’t seem like a great idea.  I thought about what would happen if I got  tired and couldn’t make it back.  And that scared me.  Scared me so much that I didn’t have the confidence to even try it.  However- confidence is a funny thing…all you need is for it to kick in one day…and confidence breeds…well breeds more confidence.  So that is what happened…one day I decided to just try hiking in Peter’s Canyon.  I had no idea what to really expect but I just got tired of sitting on the sidelines.  I had been doing a lot of training in the gym…and I knew I was getting stronger and I had quite a bit of endurance…but it was somehow different outside…less forgiving.  I knew if I pooped out on the treadmill I could always hop off and go sit down.  But outside…on a hike…if I pooped out- well I needed to some how get back home…even if I needed to crawl.  In other words this was a true challange for me…something that scared the heck out of me.  I now realize that so much of that fear was in my mind…and (forgive the pun) it wasn’t a walk in the park…but hiking Peter’s Canyon that day was not scary or daunting and I certainly did not have to crawl back!  Even when I eventually came to the granddaddy of all hills who’s nickname is “Big Red” (well because it’s big and it has red clay like dirt that covers it)…I looked up it and at first thought maybe I had gotten too much sun for even considering climbing up there.  And then I thought one of the greatest things during this weight loss journey…”what is the worst thing that can happen”?  What is the worst thing that can happen from you trying?  The worst thing was that I would climb back down and not make it to the top.  The earth would not come off it’s axis or explode…I would simply come down and try again on a different day.  Now- what is the best thing that can happen?  I could make it and get to see the view from the top!  Yep…and I probably don’t need to tell you – but as I reached the top of Big Red that day I was filled with so much accomplishment!  And I “got it”…I finally understood what all of those people were doing in REI and why they were so excited and passionate!  It wasn’t about the destinations that they were going to…it was about accomplishing…overcoming…conquering…and having their own personal journeys! 

     

Rocky Balboa Made It Look Easy!

I thought for the first posting I would start out with something that is an absolute key to weight loss and also one of the hardest things to maintain while losing weight.  Motivation.  Come January 1st…we have all had New Years resolution’s that read something like this….I’m going to go to the gym everyday, eat rice cakes for meals while starving myself, and not touch a cupcake (even if there is a gun to my head).  However- by week three we are ready to bite someone’s head off….sneaking food and popping Reese’s peanut butter cups like we are some kind of addict…and we haven’t seen the inside of the gym in days.  Good intentions…do not always equal good results.  When it comes to weight loss we have no shortage of supplies, diets, pills, surgeries, television programs…and even infomercials that promise tight abs with minimal effort.  We look to movies like “Rocky” and think that we can change our lives and bodies over the time lapse of one song (albeit a great motivational song like “Getting Stronger”).  However- when actually stepping into the gym at 6am before going to work…the “getting stronger” mentality quickly dissipates and takes our motivation with it.  So this brings me to our first topic…and that is maintaining motivation. 

Let’s face it- some days  it’s not easy to exercise.  It’s sometimes not even easy to drive to the gym – much less work out in it.  However- someone once said that “half of life is just showing up”…and when it comes to exercise and the gym I think that couldn’t be more accurate.  You have to find ways to motivate yourself into movement everyday.  What is your motivation?  Better health…more energy…being able to play with your kids…looking awesome in that little black dress…fitting into the seat on the Montezuma’s Revenge roller-coaster…shopping couture…traveling through Europe and being able to sightsee for hours at a time…running a marathon…biking on the weekends with your brother…feeling 25 again…bringing sexy back…or being bikini ready come June!  You have to find “that thing”…the thing that will motivate you come 6am when it’s still dark and rainy out…to get moving and pushing toward your goals.  Once you find that thing that is motivating you…hold on to it!  It will be your guiding light…and when your feet are hurting and you think you can’t possibly go another step…call on it…visualize it…and then get out of bed and get to the gym!  Your dreams and goals will thank you in the end!  And I will tell you that without that motivation…you can get as off track as Britney Spears at a Mensa meeting!