Musings
an Online Journal of Sorts

By Alyce Wilson

While staying on track with your fitness plan may seem a simple matter of keeping track of what you eat and exercising, it's important to keep in mind there's a psychological aspect to eating.

One of the most important things you can do is become aware of your eating patterns. Are you eating just because you're hungry or for other reasons?

Compulsive eaters eat when they're happy, when they're sad, to celebrate, to relax, to feel better, essentially, to fill an emotional hole. This was a problem I had to face as I began a healthier lifestyle, and it's one with which I still struggle. However, the more I consciously work on it, the easier it gets.

It's not always easy to break those habits, but as soon as you're aware of them you have more control. Any time you're going to eat something, ask yourself, "Why am I eating right now?" If it's just because it's the time you normally have lunch, but you're not hungry, have a light salad and then eat a healthy dinner later. If you're just eating to be social, then instead of eating, maybe have a diet soda or a glass of water with lemon and hang out.

If you're eating because you're depressed, put in one of your favorite comedies and watch it. Read your favorite web comic. Or call a friend.

The point is, if you're eating for reasons other than because you're hungry, find other ways of dealing with those feelings. You'll feel better in the long run.

One of the biggest aids to my fitness success was getting healthier emotionally and spiritually. I went to counseling to deal with personal relationship issues from my past, and dealing with those issues ultimately helped me get healthier overall. Counseling can be a great way to deal with such long-term issues.

You might find it equally helpful to share thoughts and feelings with someone you trust, whether it's a loved one or religious leader. The healthier you are emotionally and spiritually, the easier you'll find it to get healthier physically.

In much the same way, the better you feel physically, the better you'll feel spiritually and emotionally. The body is a holistic organism. Yoga is a great way to combine both emotional and physical well-being, and I highly recommend starting a class or finding a tape you can do at home.

Another emotional aspect to fitness is motivation. People have different motivational methods. Some suggest taping a recent photo of yourself on the fridge next to a photo of yourself at a healthier weight. Others hold onto an item of clothing they hope to fit into.Such tangible reminders can be motivational, but don't forget to celebrate your achievements along the way. It can be so frustrating to try to squeeze into clothes that don't fit, that you might forget you've already gone down a size.

In my case, I found it motivational to set small goals and then revise them gradually downward. Initially, I just wanted to lose 10 percent of my body fat. Then I wanted to reach a smaller size, and then I wanted to reach a healthy BMI. I didn't set out with a goal of reaching a size 8, because when I was wearing a size 20-22, I didn't even think that was possible.

It's the same philosophy I used when climbing Mount Washington, the highest mountain on the East Coast of the U.S. Instead of looking upwards towards the very top, I focused my sight on the next trail blaze, setting a goal of simply reaching that mark and then moving onward from there.

It can be helpful to see progress, so that's why it can be helpful to keep track of your progress in a variety of ways. In addition to weighing yourself, you might consider taking your measurements. I measure neck, bicep, chest, waist, hips and thigh once a week, the same day I weigh myself. My scale, in addition, provides information on body fat percentage and hydration.

For awhile, I was also using my web cam to take pictures of myself on a weekly basis in my exercise clothes, but then my web cam died so I discontinued this practice. While I was doing it, I enjoyed seeing how my muscles were getting more toned up and problem areas getting smaller.

Don't forget to give yourself a nonfood reward with every milestone you reach. You might buy yourself something new or treat yourself to a pleasant experience. One way may be to buy yourself some bath salts. Bath and Body Works sells a number of varieties which are great for soothing aching muscles.

And don't forget to keep yourself energized by varying your diet and exercise program so that you don't get tired of anything. Try out different healthy foods and different activities, and you won't ever get bored.

Take it from me, if you stick with your fitness program, you'll be happy with your results.

CAUTION: Before embarking on any weight loss program, you must consult with your physician and make certain that you are starting a healthy program that's good for your specific needs. I have no medical training and bear no legal responsibility for the results of following any of my advice.

More weight loss information:

January 9, 2006 - Alyce's Weight Loss Tips

January 10, 2006 - Healthy Foods, Guilt-Free Snacks

January 11, 2006 - Getting Active

January 12, 2006 - Getting Past Setbacks

Copyright 2005 by Alyce Wilson

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