THURSDAY’S DISH’IN NUTRITION: “Weight Loss Success and Your Stage of Readiness - Are You Ready to Win?

Really want to win the battle of the bulge? Seems like a silly question I know and yet surprisingly, it isn’t really silly at all.

Ever heard of the “stages of Readiness test or scale?" It’s a tool that we use to measure exactly that; which stage of readiness we may or may not find our clients to be in, when it comes to the business of implementing and maintaining healthy lifestyle changes.

The one we often use is known as the Cooper program. The five stages in the Cooper program are: 1) pre-contemplation, 2) contemplation, 3) preparation,
4) action and 5) maintenance.

Each stage has specific risks which may impede an
individual’s positive progression in an exercise, weight loss or healthy
lifestyle change program in general.

However; often times, those risks can be discovered and tackled before a program even begins by recognizing certain signs that help us distinguish which stage our clients may or may not be in. Often, they claim to be ready, but have you ever heard the saying “Your actions speak so loudly, I can’t hear a word you say?" That’s it exactly! Our job, as lifestyle coaches, trainers and nutritionists, is to recognize the stage of readiness our prospective clients are actually in, regardless of what they say.

So let’s test your stage of readiness by an exercise that I’m going to propose you try. DO this and you’ll most likely win the battle with weight loss and finally reach your goal or target weight. IF you baulk at this easily implemented process that lends itself towards weigh loss success, but definitely makes the prospect of getting after it quite real; you’re most likely still in stage 1 or 2 and are yet
contemplating the IDEA of losing, not preparing to do so.

Let’s find out shall we?

It’s simple. Go out and buy a small pocket calendar.

Now, weigh yourself and write that weight down on your calendar. While this often strikes terror in the hearts of many, in order to win this war you have to know your number and own it. After all, the reality is, you’ve earned it…good or bad, and it’s important to recognize that fact and face the music. The ability to do so (or lack of), is yet another key to unlocking one’s stage of readiness. Do this exercise and whatever your number may be, you won’t be there for long.

Next, count out a full 7 days, (one week) and subtract 2 pounds from your starting weight and record that new number there. Doing so makes it seem as if it’s already a done deal. SO let’s say we Started and weighed ourselves on Friday the 13th (hey WHY NOT. Trust me; it’s just a number folks. Don’t even get me started on that silly notion).

Next, you’d go to Friday Jan. 20th and write down 185 – 2 lbs. and record 183 pounds there. Then go to the next Friday, Jan. 27th and record 181 pounds. On Friday February 3rd, record 179 and so on. We know that a solid, healthy, realistic weight loss of one to three pounds per week is a good goal to shoot for. Next, for a little emotional break, every fourth week go ahead and record a weight loss of just one pound down instead of two. So on the 10th of February in the
scenario, you’d record 178 and then start the cycle all over again by recording
176 pounds on Friday February 17th.

SO it’s a two pound loss, recorded for three weeks and on the fourth, reduce the loss recorded to a single pound and repeat this process in your calendar until you find you are at your GOAL WEIGHT. This way, you have a definite goal weight - DATE FINALE!

How exciting. We do this all the time when training for athletic events (marathons
for example), when studying for major tests and board examines in school,
preparing for a new jobs we must undertake, etc. etc. etc.

It’s called a plan with a time line folks and it works. Without it, we flounder around like a fish out of water…flipping and flopping on the shore, hoping for a miracle. With this common sense approach, guess what? No miracles are required!

SO, for this hypothetical client, with a starting weight of 185 on Friday Jan. 13th and a goal weight of 150 pounds (by using this simple but highly effective formula), they’ll realistically hit their goal weight on  Friday June 1st! (Obviously give or take a little…and I mean do mean a little). It’s a plan!!!

IN approximately 4½ months, this person will have reached their goal.

This exercise can give you the inspiration to stick with it when the going gets tough by focusing on a clear cut timeline with a definitive goal weight date CLEARLY IN SIGHT!

Now ask yourself….ready to buy a calendar and do the math? If not, do some more ground work and ask yourself what may be holding you back from reaching for what you “say” you want so badly.

That alone may break the seal of your motivation and bring your goals to fruition.

Until next time

Power On…

Candace

For more reading go to www.CandaceGrasso.BlogSpot.com

For Help with weight loss and Fitness tips go to www.FitIsItCardio.com