It makes it obvious isn't it...Yes, I am talking about health regime and diet food and so on.
But..the equation I have put above is unbalanced.
I'm sure all you foodies out there would be saying - "Aye..we know it already...we dig it everyday...literally". And all you health freaks would be yawing and saying...."Man...now don't go on with another big lecture on what to eat and not to eat..don't try to become my dietitian...been there, done that".
To both the groups, I want to say...RELAX...this blog is not about food or diet or health tips. It is about the things that can make this equation balanced and actually make it work for you. So straight up let me confess that I am not a giant Panda who has suddenly found out a way to loose some 10 pounds in 10 days or some doctorate in medicine or even a chronic diet maniac. I am a normal guy, on the fringe of just about bursting out of my once "good" shape. So like all of ya, I wanted to lose a few pounds just to keep myself within that boundary.So during my last few months of efforts, figured out a few things about myself, my lifestyle and some elements that could make the above equation work for your benefit...or not.
You'd be wondering why I am calling out "Potato" and "Rice" separately while clubbing the rest in "Junk" category. It's a no brainer...I just Loooove potato in any form - boiled, fried, deep fried, grilled, in vegetables or snacks, with curry or without...and same goes for Rice. So it was clear that if I was to be serious about getting back into shape...these 2 guilty passions of mine had to be reigned in. And yes, I do not have the same level of craving for pastries, chocolates, sweets, cheese and what not, just to set the records right. So ,conveniently, I have clubbed all of them under the category "Junk".
Coming back to the topic, over the past few months of my controlled diet regime, I have come to realize that addition of a few important elements can make the above equation more effective and balanced. These elements are -
1. Be Willing - just mechanically cutting down on diet or starting exercise doesn't work. You need to be willing from within to adopt and adapt to the new lifestyle. Remember, you may force starvation on yourself but not the intended results. Best results come when driven from within.
2. Accept - of the fact that you need to be more healthier and hence you are NOT healthy right now. That is the first step towards achieving your goal. Also, accepting the fact that the new lifestyle is going to stay with you from now on wards - accept that you will not be able to revert back to your old lifestyle again.
3. Be Aware - of what you want to achieve at the end of the day. Could be anything for you. For me it could be more endurance and strength, for some it could mean better physique, for others something completely different. Whatever it is you MUST have an end objective in mind. Loosing weight is not the end, it is a journey. The destination will be different for different people depending on what goals they have set for themselves.
4. Be Headstrong - be as stubborn with your regime as possible. There will be people and situations who will try to tempt you or break you. Resist and persevere. I know it is difficult to do but I can suggest a simple exercise - when tempted, ask yourself if you are ready to repeat everything you have done so far to reach here, from the scratch again. May be this time it will take even longer or harder to do it again. Believe me, the realization will dawn on you that how costly this small slip could become for you.
5. Don't Resist - You must be wondering that this point goes against what I have professed till now. In fact, it aligns with all the above elements. The logic is simple, it is not a crime to indulge yourself in your guilty passions once in a while. It ensures that you're still happy about yourself and hence willing. Since, you do not go nutcase over your regime, there will be more acceptance from within yourself and hence when tempted beyond your accepted limits, you will end up showing more resistance. It makes sure that you're ready week after week or month after month to continue with your schedule.
For example, I indulge myself in a bit of rice and potato dose over the weekend. It ensures that the motivation is still in positive zone and I do not crave for it during the rest of the week and therefore don't feel bad about my new lifestyle or become rebellious.
The best thing about this equation is that you can find your own elements and ways to make this equation work, only if you focus hard enough on yourself and guess what...it will still yield the right answer.
So what I have come to realize is that it works only if you WANT it to work, you are WILLING to work for it and have put a PRICE on yourself not to give in mid way.
So go for it folks!!
But..the equation I have put above is unbalanced.
I'm sure all you foodies out there would be saying - "Aye..we know it already...we dig it everyday...literally". And all you health freaks would be yawing and saying...."Man...now don't go on with another big lecture on what to eat and not to eat..don't try to become my dietitian...been there, done that".
To both the groups, I want to say...RELAX...this blog is not about food or diet or health tips. It is about the things that can make this equation balanced and actually make it work for you. So straight up let me confess that I am not a giant Panda who has suddenly found out a way to loose some 10 pounds in 10 days or some doctorate in medicine or even a chronic diet maniac. I am a normal guy, on the fringe of just about bursting out of my once "good" shape. So like all of ya, I wanted to lose a few pounds just to keep myself within that boundary.So during my last few months of efforts, figured out a few things about myself, my lifestyle and some elements that could make the above equation work for your benefit...or not.You'd be wondering why I am calling out "Potato" and "Rice" separately while clubbing the rest in "Junk" category. It's a no brainer...I just Loooove potato in any form - boiled, fried, deep fried, grilled, in vegetables or snacks, with curry or without...and same goes for Rice. So it was clear that if I was to be serious about getting back into shape...these 2 guilty passions of mine had to be reigned in. And yes, I do not have the same level of craving for pastries, chocolates, sweets, cheese and what not, just to set the records right. So ,conveniently, I have clubbed all of them under the category "Junk".
Coming back to the topic, over the past few months of my controlled diet regime, I have come to realize that addition of a few important elements can make the above equation more effective and balanced. These elements are -
1. Be Willing - just mechanically cutting down on diet or starting exercise doesn't work. You need to be willing from within to adopt and adapt to the new lifestyle. Remember, you may force starvation on yourself but not the intended results. Best results come when driven from within.
2. Accept - of the fact that you need to be more healthier and hence you are NOT healthy right now. That is the first step towards achieving your goal. Also, accepting the fact that the new lifestyle is going to stay with you from now on wards - accept that you will not be able to revert back to your old lifestyle again.
3. Be Aware - of what you want to achieve at the end of the day. Could be anything for you. For me it could be more endurance and strength, for some it could mean better physique, for others something completely different. Whatever it is you MUST have an end objective in mind. Loosing weight is not the end, it is a journey. The destination will be different for different people depending on what goals they have set for themselves.
4. Be Headstrong - be as stubborn with your regime as possible. There will be people and situations who will try to tempt you or break you. Resist and persevere. I know it is difficult to do but I can suggest a simple exercise - when tempted, ask yourself if you are ready to repeat everything you have done so far to reach here, from the scratch again. May be this time it will take even longer or harder to do it again. Believe me, the realization will dawn on you that how costly this small slip could become for you.
5. Don't Resist - You must be wondering that this point goes against what I have professed till now. In fact, it aligns with all the above elements. The logic is simple, it is not a crime to indulge yourself in your guilty passions once in a while. It ensures that you're still happy about yourself and hence willing. Since, you do not go nutcase over your regime, there will be more acceptance from within yourself and hence when tempted beyond your accepted limits, you will end up showing more resistance. It makes sure that you're ready week after week or month after month to continue with your schedule.
For example, I indulge myself in a bit of rice and potato dose over the weekend. It ensures that the motivation is still in positive zone and I do not crave for it during the rest of the week and therefore don't feel bad about my new lifestyle or become rebellious.
The best thing about this equation is that you can find your own elements and ways to make this equation work, only if you focus hard enough on yourself and guess what...it will still yield the right answer.
So what I have come to realize is that it works only if you WANT it to work, you are WILLING to work for it and have put a PRICE on yourself not to give in mid way.
So go for it folks!!
