Do something Friday

I'm a tool lover.  Very few things feel as good to me as having some repair come up and being able to go to my neat and tidy toolbox, open the lid or drawer and pull out the perfect tool for the fix.  Being that my toolbox is still growing (and that I'm an exericse physiologist -- not a repair man or mechanic), I don't always get to experience the profound pleasure of having just the right tool already in my box for every situation -- sometimes I have to make do with a less-than-perfect fit in the tool-for-job catagory.

Here's the thing though -- I would have a greater number of less-than-perfect fit in the tool-for-job situations if I only had one or two tools in my tool box.

You know the old saying "If you only have a hammer, every problem looks like a nail"?  Well, sometimes that what we like to do with weight loss.

If all you know is dieting -- that's the tool you're going to use for every weightloss problem.

If you grew up working out right up to the point when you're about to keel over -- that is what you're going to see as the perfect tool for the weight loss job.

If you grew up and never learned how to manage your weight -- maybe you don't have any tools in your toolbox .  (Heck -- maybe you don't even have a toolbox).

But here's the thing:

Restrictive eating (calorie cutting) is a tool.

Mindfulness is a tool.

Exercise is a tool.

Goal setting and execution is a tool.

Supportive groups of friends and family is a tool.

Cutting back on your sugar consumption is a tool.

Motivational reading is a tool.



For most of us, our weight gain came on for more than just the plain and simple reason that we ate too many calories.  There are usually underlying factors that have driven this behavior.  Acknowledging those means accepting that the solution may require more than one tool to fix the problem.

Many jobs require a number of tools to complete (Not everything can be as well designed as  IKEA furniture where one cheaply made allen wrench will work as the only tool we need). 

What tools do you have available in your toolbox?  Small dinner plates?  The option of cooking your meals and eating in for the next month?  The ability to get outside (or come here) to get moving more than you have been?  Do you have a group of friends that will ACTIVELY support you in making these changes?

It's time to do an inventory of what tools you have in your box.  If you don't have what you need, it's time to start planning how you're going to acquire them.  A well-stocked tool box is never a bad thing (unless you're just used to calling a repair man -- because guess what??  No one can fix this problem for you -- no matter how well stocked their box or how much you are willing to pay them).

And then the most important thing -- put those tools to work.  Figure out which ones will work each day and USE THEM!  Nothing gets done without action!