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DEL.ICIO.USStriving for (im)perfection
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’ve written several posts about changes I’ve made in my life - eating more salads, getting more exercise, making better choices, avoiding fast food, etc. I certainly don’t want anyone to get the idea that I am even close to perfect. No! I am first to admit that I have been far from perfect in this process of losing weight. I have had more than a few occassions to stuff my face (“I might as well finish up this Chinese food…”) make unhealthy choices (Corn Pops for dinner last night?! Ugh!), miss my cardio (Treadmill? What treadmill? “Lost” is on!!), and even be less than enthusiastic about weight training (“Why are we doing triceps — again?!”)
I’ve struggled internally with the concept of perfection. Do I want to aspire to be perfect in all that I am doing regarding my eating and exercise? To be honest, I can’t decide. If I aspire to perfection, I am sure to let myself down. No one is perfect. On the other hand, doesn’t greatness require high aspirations? Did Lincoln, for example (who the other Fitness Challenger, Laura, wrote about so eloquently), set low expectations for himself? Probably not!
So should I start my week by telling myself that it’s okay if I mess up every now and then, or should I start my week by saying “I’m going to do everything perfectly this week”? Should I allow myself to eat the occassional Pop Tart (or whatever) ? I’m afraid that if I don’t, I’ll go crazy from feelings of deprivation. Or I will start to feel like a total failure whenever I look back at all my “mess ups.”
Advice needed, please! How do you handle this?
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Comments
By Beth
June 4, 2007 12:55 PM | Link to this
Diets that make you feel deprived set you up for failure. So diets should have some leeway for times when you just have to have something that’s not “on the approved list” so to speak. If you quit just because you fail once, then you are just looking for an excuse to quit. The failure then comes in the quitting, not in the fact that you went off the plan.
By Marie
June 4, 2007 1:59 PM | Link to this
I completely agree with Beth. Don’t set yourself up for failure. Otherwise, you will probably just throw in the towel. Admit that you are human, and all humans make mistakes. A person who never made mistakes or never became tempted would be a very dull cookie and not one that I would like to be on a deserted island with. However, you might teach yourself some tricks. How about instead of finishing up the Chinese food you finish up the salad and put the Chinese food away for another time. In other words, make a substitution. The same goes for the pop tarts. Of course, if you don’t own any pop tarts, you can’t have any. Another trick is to find something that requires only a small amount to satisfy your appetite. I have found that several small bits of very sharp cheddar cheese satisfy my appetite. I take the smallest bite possible so that I can have several bites. Maybe even put a crumb of the cheese on a small piece of a low fat cracker. It may be something else for you. How about a tad of peanut butter on a small piece of apple. Cut up an apple, put some lemon juice on it to keep it from turning brown and keep it in a zip-lock bag in the refrigerator. Then it is easy to reach when you need that substitute for the pop tart. But don’t kick yourself if you must have the pop tart. Keep up the good work.
By Gayle
June 4, 2007 4:01 PM | Link to this
Jen, Great article- I, too, agree with Beth. Also, just try and focus on doing your best today- don’t worry about the entire week ahead of you- just today. Okay, when are we going to Seasons 52? You are doing an awesome job!
By Sheila
June 6, 2007 11:09 AM | Link to this
Hey Jennifer, You are doing so many positive things not only for yourself but for your kids too. You are teaching them the correct choices to make. You are not prefect so don’t put that on yourself. Keep up the good work and remember Rome wasn’t build in a day. Ha Ha. Love ya, Sheila