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Motivation Articles  ›  Goal-Setting Techniques

Crisscross Your Way To A Better Life

Finding the Unexpected Connections of a Healthy Lifestyle

-- By Mike Kramer, Staff Writer
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The fitness universe always talks about Nutrition and Exercise as if these are the only two options for getting in shape.
 
Want to lose the post-pregnancy padding? Nutrition & Exercise.
Want to look 10 years younger? Nutrition & Exercise.
Want to make everyone jealous at the high school reunion? Nutrition & Exercise.

Whatever happened to good old Sleep and Stretching? That’s right. Regular sleep and staying limber are just two ways you can take advantage of the Crisscross Effect to lose weight.
 
The Crisscross Effect is what happens when life’s building blocks hinder or help each other.
 
Weight loss is just a single part of your dynamic, intertwined life. You also might have kids, a demanding boss, car problems, a nagging cough, magazine subscriptions, sports teams, fishing trips, traffic, high blood pressure, music practice, cranky relatives, noisy streets, babysitting, card night and the daily comics to contend with. Weight loss has a real impact on – and is impacted by – all of these and more.
 
There's more to weight loss than Nutrition and Exercise. Weight loss is linked to everything else going on in your life. Programs that ignore this connection are doomed to be interruptions and stress producers.
 
When any part of your life changes – when new habits spring up – the Crisscross Effect takes over. Sometimes, the Crisscross is obvious and direct. Other times it’s more subtle.
 
When you learn goal-setting skills by trying to eat more veggies, and then start using those skills at work, you’re seeing the Crisscross Effect.
 
When your sleep habits make it easier to get up in the morning
in time for a strong breakfast, you’re seeing the Crisscross Effect.
 
When your success inspires a friend to start his/her own program, you’re seeing the Crisscross Effect.
 
The magic of the whole thing is not that parts of your life are linked. The real benefit is how you can use that link to your advantage. Nutrition and Exercise are still extremely important and should be a big part of any Fitness program. But with the Crisscross Effect, you can also use other building blocks to speed you on the way to weight loss.

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About The Author

Mike Kramer Mike Kramer
As a writer and artist, Mike has witnessed countless motivational stories and techniques. See all of Mike's articles.

Member Comments

  • CLARAELIZABETH1
    I wish I could think up stuff like this -- it's really simple, but I've never looked at it this way! - 3/18/2013 5:07:59 PM
  • I thoroughly enjoyed this article! There should be a like button the articles so that we can send/spread the word through facebook and twitter! I know there are for other features with sparkpeople but i've not seen it for the articles. - 10/10/2012 5:28:38 PM
  • I loved this article and came back to re-read it today. Every 4 weeks in my Journal I write "Criss-Cross Effect" and note all of the positive changes that I have noticed - besides losing weight. For example, this weekend after Week 24, I noted that housework is much easier and I seem to just zip through it, where 6 months ago I thought maybe I needed to hire it out! I also noted that I was joining in P.E. games with my students - played Ultimate Frisbee yesterday! What a great way to model the pleasure of physical activity for kids! - 10/7/2012 3:44:46 PM
  • STACYZZ
    great article, never made the connection between enough sleep and better health habits. - 9/24/2012 12:37:58 PM
  • great leaned a lot and its also a good reminder how everything is linked together and shows us losing weight is a diet but a way of living a healthy life style - 9/23/2012 2:49:49 PM
  • Thanks for giving this a name! I have noticed it ... and love it ... but had not labeled it. Each little change makes other changes easier and more exciting ... it's like "getting more bang for your buck!"

    - 5/20/2012 10:28:59 PM
  • Such a HUGE part of the whole journey. And SO often forgotten.

    Thanks for this!!

    - 5/20/2012 9:58:24 PM
  • I've been living--and loving--this since beginning Spark last July. Thank you, Spark! - 5/20/2012 7:09:28 PM
  • I found the print button!
    YAY!!!! - 5/20/2012 4:51:43 PM
  • What happened to the "print?" I keep a scrapbook of articles I love...and lately...the print to pdf is gone! Very sad. - 5/20/2012 4:50:38 PM
  • LITTLETINYFISH7
    Love this article ... something I knew but had forgotten about ... I have recently revamped my entire outlook and plan for a healthy lifestyle, including positive motivation spinning classes, and I noticed the difference in the first week! will be saving this one for future reminder of what this really is all about!! - 5/20/2012 1:10:21 PM
  • Already knew it, but it's definitely something worth reminding yourself! - 5/20/2012 9:33:22 AM
  • Funny how i knew this intuitively. - 5/20/2012 9:14:35 AM
  • Good article!
    I didn't realize the crisscrossing effects while things were going well.
    But when I neglected sleep, then woke up tired and skipped morning strength training, and ended up binging after dinner, then I realized how these things are linked together. - 5/20/2012 6:59:23 AM
  • Loved this article. Thank you!!!! Now I need some sleep!!! - 4/17/2012 10:20:24 PM