Are you a procrastinator? If you are you are not alone. I live with several procrastinators, all of whom I love dearly but sometimes make me a little crazy!
You see – I am not a procrastinator in most areas of my life, but when it came to getting started losing weight, procrastination was something I did very, very well. I put off for tomorrow what should have been done today.
It’s funny for me to look back and realize that in very few areas of my life did I ever procrastinate. When I worked in an office, I got things done on time and didn’t wait until the last minute. At home I got dinner to the table on time and didn’t stand around and wonder what we should have. And when I was in charge of something at church, it got done.
Not so with weight loss.
I found lots of reasons to procrastinate, like:
♦It’s too close to a holiday.
♦I like to start these kinds of things on Monday
♦I just put it out of my mind when the chocolate bell rang for me.
♦I really hadn’t outgrown my clothes – really.
♦I just made a cake and who’s going to eat it if I try and diet now?
♦We might be going out to dinner and it was too hard if you went out to eat.
♦I didn’t feel ready.
♦We were having out of town company come next month.
And on and on.
I realize that I kept procrastinating about really getting started because of many different reasons. I was fearful of failure, I didn’t want to deprive myself, diets never worked for me, I was too tired to exercise, I thought of the journey as all or nothing. There were so many reasons I couldn’t even begin to list them.
What finally got me off the procrastinator merry-go-round and on the right path? A visit to my doctor. I stood on his scale and realized, perhaps for the first time, that if I didn’t do something RIGHT THEN, I could easily keep gaining weight until I weighed 400 pounds or more. And I started that day.
Were you a procrastinator? And if so, what finally got you moving again? Diane
This time, my last-ever-diet-healthy-lifestyle-change, I did indeed fall into that trap with the holiday season. Can’t diet before Thanksgiving, or the next big eating event. I finally decided enough was enough and started this diet BEFORE New Year’s eve, which in the past meant food for me. I’m not sure what finally got me going, maybe the thought of how much more damage I could do with all the holiday junk still in the house. My husband gave me a lot of great chocolate for my stocking but I left all but one box uneaten and moved on with my life.
.-= WaistingTime´s last blog ..My Century Mark =-.
Some issues came up with my oldest (teenage) daughter, and I found out I was pregnant with my seventh. I felt like my life was spiraling out of control and my health along with it. I knew that my weight, and thus my health, was something that was completely under my control and it was time I did something about it before it got even worse.
.-= moonduster (Becky)´s last blog ..Exercise & Daily Life =-.
What a great (and truthful) observation. At work, I can’t procrastinate. I need to get things done early then revise. But if I were to, say, try to eat healthier after a few days of holiday binging or give up soda, I’d most likely procrastinate and say I’ll do it next week. So weird how we’re like that. Great post!
When I lost my forty pounds what finally got me to quit procrastinating was a trip to my doctors too. I saw 197 that was the heaviest I had ever been and I knew if I allowed myself to keep going I was soon going to be over 200 pounds. Also, I got remarried and I was shocked when I saw the pictures could no longer kid myself that I wasn’t that “big”.
Now I make daily exercise part of my new “normal” routine and it is for life plus I try to eat low fat balanced meals that are portioned controlled. No procrastinating allowed!
.-= Susan´s last blog ..Slip that leads to a Binge =-.
Great post Diane. Yes, lots of reasons for this & some are that doing this journey is HARD & people sometimes want the quick fix or easy way.. which is not there. Some make those excuses way too long… many of us did & some still do.
We need to understand that it is a journey with ups & downs, a lifestyle change that takes commitment, hard work, consistency & patience. Hard stuff but if you can accept it, it is yours for the asking!
.-= Jody – Fit at 52´s last blog ..Pledge for Better Health – GIVEAWAY TOO! =-.
When I was in shape, I was NEVER a procrastinator with my body. In fact, when it came to new ideas for working out eating change-ups, speed of implementation was everything. Then, when I got out of shape, it took me a long time to get going again. “Tomorrow” was my mantra, until tomorrow slapped me in the face with a 46″ waist. Now I’m back to my old, fit ways. Sadly, I’m a procrastinator in most other aspects of my life.
.-= Emergefit´s last blog ..Homo Karate-us… =-.
I am not a procrastinator in the least ( never put off till tomorrow what you should have done yesterday), but with weight it was more like being Sleeping Beauty with these 7 Dwarfs hanging around me ( Autism, Stress,Fear( of autism),Financial problems ( caused by the first and becoming good friends and cheerleaders to the other two) and a few others. One day my Prince ( in the form of a shattering park bench) rode in and woke me up. Change happened the next moment, and left my family rather struggling to keep up for a while. Happily every after has followed , so it was a good thing.
.-= Diane´s last blog ..Godzilla veggie laszgna =-.
I was a procrastinator when I was heavy, always promising myself I will ‘start a diet on Monday’. And that ‘monday’ never would get there.
I found a great moto today on a friends blog that I am going to post on our fridge:
“Tomorrow starts Today”. I love it, it can be directed at many things in all of my families lives.
.-= Brenda´s last blog ..5# Kettlebell =-.
I’m like you, Diane. I’ve never been a procrastinator… except when it came to weight loss. My trigger moment was the result of Facebook. I attended a fancy-schmancy party and friends posted photos the next day. I looked HUGE compared to the other girls in the photo. I barely recognized myself. That was my turning point. I haven’t looked back.
.-= Bella (Stilettos on the Streetcar)´s last blog ..Celebrate good times =-.
I was definitely one of those “I’ll start it on Monday” folks. And I’d always eat a ridiculous amount the Sunday before, because I planned to go totally cold turkey on all of those foods.
When I did start my actual weight loss journey, I didn’t do the night-before “binge.” I just went to the gym, signed up for a monthlong membership, and that was it. I was going to lose weight, I was going to get in shape, and that was it — I wanted it bad enough this time. I started to eat less, and eventually that’s evolved into eating the right things.
.-= Ashley´s last blog ..Blogger lunch + pizza confessions =-.
“I’ll start on Monday” used to be my mantra! Now I remind myself that there is no reason I can’t start doing better right now.
.-= Lauren @ Eater not a runner´s last blog ..headache-y =-.
I’m definitely a procrastinator! What got me going was being disgusted with the way I looked and felt and realizing I dropped 86lbs before so I KNEW how to do it I just had to get at it. Some bloggers I found at the end of last year also helped get me over the hump and get back at it.
.-= John´s last blog ..Just Me and the Road =-.
Even though I didn’t start my journey right away, I do think a visit to the doctor had an impact. She told me that I was overweight and needed to watch what I ate.
I was watching what I ate — whether it was Starbucks Java Chip etc. so I don’t know what the doctor was talking about
After the doctor’s visit, I had a dream about a chubby baby that I was able to pick up. Hmmmm….
.-= ‘Drea´s last blog ..The Ear to Ear Standard =-.
So true !!
.-= Amy´s last blog ..Gastronomic Paris… =-.
We are the same in this area, when it comes to work and everything else in my life I do it right away. But when it concerns my weight/health I procastinate.
I still am one today so I don’t have the answer. Yet!
.-= Fran´s last blog ..A day in my life: Monday April 12th 2010 =-.
My favorite excuse what I’m still young…or I live alone who cares.
I finally got started when I got results of a physical for school and they weren’t good. I was scared.
.-= Cynthia (It All Changes)´s last blog ..Big Liar =-.
I procrastinated when it came to weight loss for over 20 years. The main thing to get me moving on losing the weight was seeing my Mom die from diabetes and knowing I was getting it much earlier than she did.
.-= Sandi´s last blog .. =-.
Well, I would be like one of your loved ones–I am a procrastinator. All of the excuses you used have a very familiar ring to them. I have used them and then some. One thing you said: “thought of the journey as all or nothing” really spoke to me. I realize that I just need to start doing something–at least one small step–and build from there. Thanks for always getting me to think past my excuses. You are an inspiration.
Yes, I’m a procrastinator in many (but not all) ways. Unfortunately sometimes.
I finally decided something had to be done when my knees hurt, I had gain another 10 pounds after deciding to love myself the way I was, I was mortified at a photo AND I felt too old for my age. I knew if I didn’t start something, anything right away I would only continue to gain and feel older and get more pains.
So, I took a few baby steps and started. Unfortunately, maybe..but maybe not, I procrastinated in getting really serious about better eating. Though I struggled with so many emotional issues it may be not been procrastination that stopped me from quick weight loss. Not sure on that one.
Good post!
.-= Leah´s last blog ..No Acceptance =-.
I’m allegedly an anti procrastinator but I don’t believe it.
.-= AndrewENZ´s last blog ..Weigh-in #15 2010: Weekend problems =-.
I finally had to just plan my exercise, otherwise it wasn’t going to get done. And if my co-worker couldn’t walk with me one day, I’d just not do anything. Not anymore! I’ve decided to do yoga in the mornings MWF for 25 minutes – Tu/Th to the gym in the a.m. – then walk at lunch for 45 minutes.
Best part? This schedule doesn’t interfere with my family time – and I am actually starting to become a morning person, which I thought would NEVER happen
.-= Biz´s last blog ..Reason No. 1,050 I love Tony! =-.
I’d unite, but I think I’ll put it off until tomorrow.
Kidding! I am a HUGE procrastinator of many things, unless it’s a priority. For example, my workouts need to be done properly, and when they’re supposed to, but cleaning the kitchen? It’ll happen an hour before company is coming over. I also used to only do homework the night before (or something the morning of or the class before) it was due.
Losing weight – honestly, I had to be ready. For a while, I just wasn’t in the mindset to make it a priority, so I didn’t lose weight. Once it bubbled up (having to buy size 24 jeans did it for me), I made it a priority, attacked the problem, and solved it (mostly).
.-= Quix´s last blog ..Look At The E-Lungs On Me =-.
Oh yes, I’m a procrastinator. For weight loss, I figured out that the reason I was procrastinating was that I was going for the wrong goal. Once I shifted my focus (from complete overhaul to small consistent changes, being healthy instead of ‘getting skinny’, etc.) I was suddenly eager to go-go-go!
.-= Cammy@TippyToeDiet´s last blog ..Rambling about Designing Women =-.
One thing I say to myself that helps when I want to put something off:
If I don’t do this now (choose fruit over chips, go out for a jog, etc.) I’ve lost my chance to use this time forever. There’s no making up for this time that I didn’t use now (i.e. by eating extra healthy tomorrow, by jogging more tomorrow). That time is gone and I can’t use it ever again.
I never procrastinate! However I tend not to do something unpleasant until I am sure that I will still be alive when the deadline arrives
.-= Dr. J´s last blog ..Lab Notes: Premature Births Decline for Second Year in a Row; Liverpool Wants to Dump Word Obesity =-.
I too put off starting a healthy lifestyle for years! Among other things, the fact that I will be turning 40 this year really got me motivated. I want to start the next decade of my life in really great shape!
.-= Carla´s last blog ..Re-evaluating my goal weight =-.
I just wasn’t done feeling sorry for myself. I felt victimized by the tragedies in my life and justified in my atrocious eating habits. I deserved it. The cake that is.
It isn’t until just recently that I realized how much easier it would have been-and healthier-if I had just hopped back on the healthy treadmill and plodded away through the stress and difficulty.
.-= JourneyBeyondSurvival´s last blog ..Scale Smackdown =-.
Yep. I was a total procrastinator. When it clicks, it clicks. And I’m thankful every day that it finally clicked for me.
.-= Josie´s last blog ..Run for Music 10K – WOW! =-.
Your words ring so true for me too. I procrastinated for at least 6 years…then something clicked and I slowly started to change my eating habits. It looks like you have lost a lot of weight. Congrads. I too have lost a lot of weight…over 90 pounds. I am hoping to get motivated to loss another 20 pounds. hope you continue to have success.
I am doing that with school right now, with my huge long run. I am scared of what I can do.
But I don’t want to be anymore. So I am going to push myself. Find validation inside of myself and realise that I can and I WILL!
nothing to add as Im currently mired in procrastinating.
Im just here fer the comments by those wiser than I…
.-= Miz´s last blog ..6 personal branding tips. =-.
Yes, definitely a procrastinator. In many areas. A work in progress. Right now I am procrastinating getting ready to go help at school… off I go…
.-= Larkspur´s last blog ..Guest Post: Danny from Fit by 41, Maybe 42 =-.
I still am a procrastinator. Well, more like an excuse maker. Oh, we’re going out to dinner? I’m not even going to attempt to count those calories. Hey, look, chips! Those don’t count, right?
I put off my journey long enough, but now that I have started, my struggle is to keep from making excuses.
.-= 100 Pounds in a Year´s last blog ..A Short One =-.