Food, Fitness, and a Fear of Failure

I have a new goal- I’m going to be fit. Well, maybe it’s not a “new” goal since I have tried it once before. Or twice. Or several times, but who’s counting. My point is, I’m recommitting. I put some thought into it this morning as I was doing some lunges. Okay, technically I was stretching out my jeans, but let’s not get caught up on details. In order to clearly define this goal, I think it’s important to recognize what it does not mean. It does not mean that I will obsess about my body. Not wanting to cry and go for a drink after pants shopping would be a good start though. And, by “fit” I don’t mean skinny. Britney Spears will never be classy and I will never be skinny. Some things just aren’t meant to be. So, what do I mean by “fit”? For starters, I’d like to be able to run around the softball field without needing oxygen. Pulling that tank around the bases really slows me down, plus it makes me look silly. Basically, I’d like to feel stronger, leaner, and less depressed when I shop for pants. This may also help me drink less. These are the goals I will keep before me. And, as with any goal, baby steps are important on the road to achievement. Baby step #1- I will stop eating M&Ms on the way to the gym. Baby step #2- I will stop getting french fries at Wendy’s when I leave the gym. For the past month, I tried not going to the gym in order to change these habits, but I don’t think that was the most effective approach. I also think accountability is key to success. I will consider the shame and humiliation of failure after having blogged about my goal as enough motivation. I’ll keep you posted in a new series of blog entries titled “My Diet Diary.”