A Postcard from the Future
After struggling for a few years to lose the weight I gained after surgery, and dealing with subsequent injuries, I rejoined the Precision Nutrition Coaching Program this year (formerly known as Lean Eating). I will not be using this blog to bore readers with every detail as I did the last time. (If that interests you, I have a lesser-read public blog where I talk more extensively about the program and I will provide a link if you feel you must read it) Regardless, I need to share a bit about my goals and dreams, because I see everything I want and everything I need to work on in the months ahead. It's worth sharing. I hope readers can find their own inspiration and their own purpose as they read this.
When the program began, there was a coaching lesson about having a "Destination Postcard". The idea was for participants to visualize their goals and imagine what their lives would be a year from now. The lesson suggested we write our goals down, create vision boards, or scrapbook our favorite ideas. I took the advice in a halfhearted manner. I created a Pinterest board with some ideas, but I didn't let it inspire me the way it was supposed to. I knew what my goals were. I didn't need to do any soul searching, did I?
One of my non-fitness goals at the beginning of the year was to start seriously saving money. I paid off my credit card this month and I was ready to put money away. I want to buy a new car next year (my little car has been running faithfully for 12 years, but I don't know how much I can keep her running). I also want to celebrate my upcoming landmark birthday with a trip to Scotland. I had a plan and a budget to put a certain amount away every month so I would have a generous down payment for the car and a bit leftover to put towards the trip.
Life never goes as it should. I was hit with unexpected bills from all sides this month and I still have at least two more coming. Now that I am debt-free, I can pay them, but it leaves me little left over for savings. That potential down payment on the new car shrinks a little bit every week. That trip to Scotland seems like more of an impossible dream.
Then I realized something. The Precision Nutrition program is a contest. There are prizes awarded for the best transformation. The grand prize is ten thousand dollars. There are several lesser monetary prizes.
When I did the program the last time, I didn't even consider going for the prize. The prize should go to people with triple digits to lose and close adherence to the program. That wasn't me. I only aimed to lose 25 pounds at the time and didn't think I would achieve that (I didn't). I was willing to do the work, but there was a limit to how much work. I was happy just to lose weight. I didn't need to win money.
I look at everything I want for myself in the coming year and I realize this time I want to play to win.
As I lay awake unable to sleep last night, I started thinking more about that destination postcard. What do I really want to achieve this year? I wasn't only thinking about my weight. I was thinking about my entire life. What did I want to happen a year from now? I came up with a list.
I want to lose 32 more pounds (I lost 8 pounds so far since the beginning of the year).
I want to win the Precision Nutrition contest. Even if I don't win the grand prize, I want one of the lesser cash prizes.
I want a new car next year and a good down payment to buy it with.
I want to go to Scotland next year.
I want to not be a typical Fat American on the family trip to Spain this summer.
When I took my annual beach vacation to Chincoteague last summer, I bought a cute new bathing suit and took a picture of me wearing it. I want to wear that suit (weather permitting) when I return to Chincoteague in September and photograph myself it. I want to see a noticeable difference between the two photos.
I want to make over my balcony into a peaceful garden oasis. I want to lay down decking and fill the space with lush plantings and comfortable furniture.
I want to exceed my PR for squat weight (at least 80 pounds).
I want to try aerial classes (either lyra or silks or maybe both).
I want to be light and effective when I ride Riddle and ride her without fear.
I want to perform in Working this spring with every song, every line, and every piece of staging on point.
I want to give a brilliant singing performance at this year's dance recital (I will be mostly singing rather than dancing this spring.)
I intend to audition for any show I think will cast me this fall.
My job responsibilities are changing at work. I want to perform them to the best of my ability and really shine.
I want to leverage those job responsibilities to enable me to find a better paying job next year.
I want to shop for a smaller sized new wardrobe with a personal stylist.
I want to do what it takes to work on my sleep issues so I am not lying awake at night contemplating life.
I need to remember self care. My body does better with regular stretching. My mind seems to respond to regular meditation. I also should not deprive myself of a good massage if my muscles feel too achy to function properly.
When it comes to how I intend to lose those forty pounds, I have a list of behaviors I need to adjust to get me to my goal. I won't list them here because if you read this far, you are probably sick of reading lists. They're boring. However, one thing I will say is that any time I feel tempted to stray from the program, I will remind myself of how badly I want that car. If I'm in it to win it, then I need to walk the walk (Wow! Two cliches in one sentence!). It's not enough to read the rules. I have to live these habits. They have to be part of my everyday life.
Time will tell if the postcard in my head becomes the postcard I create in real life. This is just about my "After" photo. It's about everything that comes after "After".
When the program began, there was a coaching lesson about having a "Destination Postcard". The idea was for participants to visualize their goals and imagine what their lives would be a year from now. The lesson suggested we write our goals down, create vision boards, or scrapbook our favorite ideas. I took the advice in a halfhearted manner. I created a Pinterest board with some ideas, but I didn't let it inspire me the way it was supposed to. I knew what my goals were. I didn't need to do any soul searching, did I?
One of my non-fitness goals at the beginning of the year was to start seriously saving money. I paid off my credit card this month and I was ready to put money away. I want to buy a new car next year (my little car has been running faithfully for 12 years, but I don't know how much I can keep her running). I also want to celebrate my upcoming landmark birthday with a trip to Scotland. I had a plan and a budget to put a certain amount away every month so I would have a generous down payment for the car and a bit leftover to put towards the trip.
Life never goes as it should. I was hit with unexpected bills from all sides this month and I still have at least two more coming. Now that I am debt-free, I can pay them, but it leaves me little left over for savings. That potential down payment on the new car shrinks a little bit every week. That trip to Scotland seems like more of an impossible dream.
Then I realized something. The Precision Nutrition program is a contest. There are prizes awarded for the best transformation. The grand prize is ten thousand dollars. There are several lesser monetary prizes.
When I did the program the last time, I didn't even consider going for the prize. The prize should go to people with triple digits to lose and close adherence to the program. That wasn't me. I only aimed to lose 25 pounds at the time and didn't think I would achieve that (I didn't). I was willing to do the work, but there was a limit to how much work. I was happy just to lose weight. I didn't need to win money.
I look at everything I want for myself in the coming year and I realize this time I want to play to win.
As I lay awake unable to sleep last night, I started thinking more about that destination postcard. What do I really want to achieve this year? I wasn't only thinking about my weight. I was thinking about my entire life. What did I want to happen a year from now? I came up with a list.
I want to lose 32 more pounds (I lost 8 pounds so far since the beginning of the year).
I want to win the Precision Nutrition contest. Even if I don't win the grand prize, I want one of the lesser cash prizes.
I want a new car next year and a good down payment to buy it with.
I want to go to Scotland next year.
I want to not be a typical Fat American on the family trip to Spain this summer.
When I took my annual beach vacation to Chincoteague last summer, I bought a cute new bathing suit and took a picture of me wearing it. I want to wear that suit (weather permitting) when I return to Chincoteague in September and photograph myself it. I want to see a noticeable difference between the two photos.
I want to make over my balcony into a peaceful garden oasis. I want to lay down decking and fill the space with lush plantings and comfortable furniture.
I want to exceed my PR for squat weight (at least 80 pounds).
I want to try aerial classes (either lyra or silks or maybe both).
I want to be light and effective when I ride Riddle and ride her without fear.
I want to perform in Working this spring with every song, every line, and every piece of staging on point.
I want to give a brilliant singing performance at this year's dance recital (I will be mostly singing rather than dancing this spring.)
I intend to audition for any show I think will cast me this fall.
My job responsibilities are changing at work. I want to perform them to the best of my ability and really shine.
I want to leverage those job responsibilities to enable me to find a better paying job next year.
I want to shop for a smaller sized new wardrobe with a personal stylist.
I want to do what it takes to work on my sleep issues so I am not lying awake at night contemplating life.
I need to remember self care. My body does better with regular stretching. My mind seems to respond to regular meditation. I also should not deprive myself of a good massage if my muscles feel too achy to function properly.
When it comes to how I intend to lose those forty pounds, I have a list of behaviors I need to adjust to get me to my goal. I won't list them here because if you read this far, you are probably sick of reading lists. They're boring. However, one thing I will say is that any time I feel tempted to stray from the program, I will remind myself of how badly I want that car. If I'm in it to win it, then I need to walk the walk (Wow! Two cliches in one sentence!). It's not enough to read the rules. I have to live these habits. They have to be part of my everyday life.
Time will tell if the postcard in my head becomes the postcard I create in real life. This is just about my "After" photo. It's about everything that comes after "After".
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