Weight Loss: the big picture
This blog is gradually turning into collection of speaking points, speech drafts etc. So be it. This is an overview of a personalized weight loss program for a friend of mine. Mostly speaking points.
What do you want?
So you think you want to lose weight? Good for you! Because this answers the very first question we are going to ask every week. Have an answer every week. Think hard about what you really want - every week. The answer may change overtime. The answer SHOULD change eventually because eventually you are going to get what you want. And then you should find something else you want as badly as you want to lose weight - now.
One week you might want to lose weight, one week you might want to learn to run fast, one week you might want to squat 500lbs, one week you might want to kick and punch like Bruce Lee. It's all good. But whatever you choose, stick with it for a while. All the specific results in a particular sport, all the side effects of weight loss are just a nice bonus. Don't focus on them when you do weight loss. And don't focus on weight loss if you want to achieve something specific in a particular sport.
What does it take to get there?
So you know you want to lose weight. But what does it take to get there? Does it matter? If you know what you want, and you have the time, the energy and the dedication - you'll get there - eventually.
Time, energy and dedication. Three things you can't produce, three things you never have enough of. Three things that are not things.
How can you get more time? You can't. 24 hours is all you got. You have to make time by NOT doing something else. By doing LESS of something else. Just do me a favor, don't save on sleep, because this is counter-productive.
How can you get more energy? You can't. Energy drinks and energy bars are just sugar. You consume enough energy to stay afloat, 2000 or so calories a day, 15000 or so calories a week. The only way to have more energy is to spend less energy. By doing less, by stressing less, by exercising less, by working smarter and not harder.
How do you find more dedication? Is this question even grammatically correct? You don't find dedication. You show dedication by expending energy overtime. It takes time to show dedication. It takes energy - every time. You show dedication by not saying 'Yes' to everything. You show dedication by saying "No" most of the time. And then your "Yes" actually means something.
I can tell you what helped me to get where I am right now. I lost 48 lbs in about 2 years, I still try to lose weight, although people tell me I don't need to. Diet : learning how to consume. Exercise: learning how to produce. People: learning to help someone to help you.
We'll keep covering the three pillars of weight loss: Diet, Exercise, People in the following conversations, but let me define them now.
Diet is not something you do after a day, a month or years of 'misbehaving'. Diet is about getting what you need - every day, every month, every year - forever, even when no onŠµ is watching.
Exercise is not something you do to look a certain way. Exercise is doing what you really want to do - every day, every month, every year - forever, even when no one is watching.
People are the most beautiful, complicated and frustrating problems one can have. And they are good problems to have - every day, every month, every year - forever. Make sure someone is watching!
What do I want?
Just like all other people, I am going to be your problem and here is what I want from you - every time we are going to meet. Have an answer to these questions: What do you want? What worked so far? What do you want to change? And most importantly, even if you don't have an answer to these questions - show up.
To be continued...
What do you want?
So you think you want to lose weight? Good for you! Because this answers the very first question we are going to ask every week. Have an answer every week. Think hard about what you really want - every week. The answer may change overtime. The answer SHOULD change eventually because eventually you are going to get what you want. And then you should find something else you want as badly as you want to lose weight - now.
One week you might want to lose weight, one week you might want to learn to run fast, one week you might want to squat 500lbs, one week you might want to kick and punch like Bruce Lee. It's all good. But whatever you choose, stick with it for a while. All the specific results in a particular sport, all the side effects of weight loss are just a nice bonus. Don't focus on them when you do weight loss. And don't focus on weight loss if you want to achieve something specific in a particular sport.
What does it take to get there?
So you know you want to lose weight. But what does it take to get there? Does it matter? If you know what you want, and you have the time, the energy and the dedication - you'll get there - eventually.
Time, energy and dedication. Three things you can't produce, three things you never have enough of. Three things that are not things.
How can you get more time? You can't. 24 hours is all you got. You have to make time by NOT doing something else. By doing LESS of something else. Just do me a favor, don't save on sleep, because this is counter-productive.
How can you get more energy? You can't. Energy drinks and energy bars are just sugar. You consume enough energy to stay afloat, 2000 or so calories a day, 15000 or so calories a week. The only way to have more energy is to spend less energy. By doing less, by stressing less, by exercising less, by working smarter and not harder.
How do you find more dedication? Is this question even grammatically correct? You don't find dedication. You show dedication by expending energy overtime. It takes time to show dedication. It takes energy - every time. You show dedication by not saying 'Yes' to everything. You show dedication by saying "No" most of the time. And then your "Yes" actually means something.
I can tell you what helped me to get where I am right now. I lost 48 lbs in about 2 years, I still try to lose weight, although people tell me I don't need to. Diet : learning how to consume. Exercise: learning how to produce. People: learning to help someone to help you.
We'll keep covering the three pillars of weight loss: Diet, Exercise, People in the following conversations, but let me define them now.
Diet is not something you do after a day, a month or years of 'misbehaving'. Diet is about getting what you need - every day, every month, every year - forever, even when no onŠµ is watching.
Exercise is not something you do to look a certain way. Exercise is doing what you really want to do - every day, every month, every year - forever, even when no one is watching.
People are the most beautiful, complicated and frustrating problems one can have. And they are good problems to have - every day, every month, every year - forever. Make sure someone is watching!
What do I want?
Just like all other people, I am going to be your problem and here is what I want from you - every time we are going to meet. Have an answer to these questions: What do you want? What worked so far? What do you want to change? And most importantly, even if you don't have an answer to these questions - show up.
To be continued...