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As you meet your goals, don’t forget to record and reward. Recording your daily successes— as simple as placing a checkmark on your calendar every time you work out—can be tremendously motivating. A row of checkmarks not only shows progress, it balances out the one or two days you didn’t get there, giving you the bigger picture and the drive to push on. And "recording" should lead to "rewarding,"--finding small ways to celebrate your success—telling friends, buying a small item to pamper yourself, or giving yourself time to do something you don’t normally get to do. Finally, recognize that, even with realistic goals, you won’t always succeed. Giving yourself permission to fail occasionally helps eliminate the excuse to throw up your hands and quit. For example, most of us overeat at one time or another, but when it’s over, do we begin again or give up? It’s what we do afterwards that dictates whether our fall is a momentary lapse or the beginning of the end. Success is a year-round choice. You must decide what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it. No one else can, will, or should do that for you. |
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Rebecca Pratt
A freelance writer who contributes to various newspapers and magazines, Becky loves covering ordinary people doing extraordinary things. |
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Member Comments
Case in point: I just made a discovery: I can't buy those adorable little 'mini cones' from Trader Joe's. I eat the whole box, one cone at a time. Its not a good habit to be in. But, guess what thats just one habit I need to change, not all of my good eating or exercising habits. Just one.
I'm still logging my food, aiming for extra veggies, and exercising before breakfast. I forget which self help book it was that said if you add habits all at once that you are more likely to drop them all at the same time. - 1/23/2013 12:01:20 PM
Thanks! - 4/13/2011 9:21:18 AM
As I get closer and closer to my goal I need to develop a good strategy to maintain and this article provides excellent points that I will certainly use. Thank you! - 10/22/2010 1:42:37 PM
all-or-nothing mentality and it is very draining. This article put a refreshing perspective on this journey. - 2/3/2009 8:42:16 PM