Saturday, February 13, 2010

8 reasons why you fall off the wagon

I received an interesting email newsletter from Tom Venuto the other day. It was titled, 'Why sticking with your diet is so hard', and in it he listed 8 reasons why you fall off the wagon. Thought I would share them with you here.

Here are the 8 reasons why you fall off the wagon

1. No focus: you didn't set goals, you didn't put your goals in writing, and or you didn't keep your goals in mind daily (by reading them, affirming them, looking at a vision board, etc.)

2. No priorities: you may have set a goal, but you didn't put it on or near the top of your priorities list. For example, your goal is six pack abs, but drinking beer and eating fast food on the weekend is higher on your priorities list than having a flat stomach.

3. No support system: you tried to go at it alone; no buddy system, training partners, family, spouse, friends, mentors or coaches to turn to for information and emotional support when the going got tough.

4. No Accountability: you didn't keep score for your own accountability - with a progress chart, weight record, measurements, food journal, training journal, and you didn't set up external accountability (ie, report to someone else or show your results to someone else)

5. No patience: you were only thinking short term and had unrealistic expectations. You expected 10 pounds a week or 5 pounds a week or 3 pounds a week, so the first week you lost "only" 1 or 2 pounds or hit a plateau, you gave up.

6. No planning: you winged it. You walked into the gym without having a workout in hand, on paper, you didn't plan your workouts into your weekly schedule; you didn't have a menu on paper, you didn't make time (so instead you made excuses, like "I'm too busy")

7. No balance: your diet or training program was too extreme. You went the all or nothing, "I want it now" route instead of the moderate, slow-and-steady wins the race route.

8. No personalization: your nutrition or training program was the wrong one for you. It might have worked for someone else, but it didn't suit your schedule, personality, lifestyle, disposition or body type.

So there you have it - 8 mistakes that cause most people to fall off the wagon. Are you guilty of any of these transgressions? If so, the solutions are clear and simple:

Focus, prioritize, get support, be accountable, be patient, plan, balance and personalize.

Today's food
M1: protein shake, muesli, eggs
M2: chicken, green beans, flax oil pesto
M3: chilli pistachio chicken, salad
M4: kangaroo patty, sweet potato, celery, capsicum, cucumber, carrot
M5: fish, sweet potato and green bean curry

I will lose 10kg by 31 December

6 comments:

Chelle said...

Tom Venuto is awesome, his new book - The body fat solution has just arrived in the post. Can't wait to read it!

Anonymous said...

Nice Charlotte,

I am happy to say that I have every of those 8 elements in place!

Why people fall of the wagon is very easily forgotton once the deed is done. I think alot of people get caught up in the emotion of guilt that sometimes they let it spiral out of control.

FORGIVE YOURSELF AND MOVE ON!

Good post. xox

Charlotte Orr said...

Hi Chelle, I've heard it's good! Hope you enjoy it.

Charlotte Orr said...

Thanks Tiarna, me too!

Kerry W said...

Thanks Charlotte. Will have to keep these up my sleeve for my mentorees.

...thanks for taking the time to drop in on my blog too. :)

Charlotte Orr said...

Hi Kerry, hope they help. Cheers, Charlotte