Whoever said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff” was out of their mind. In life, it’s the small stuff that makes a good day great and a great day remarkable. In my experience, it is the little things in life that makes that life worth living, after all life is really just a big collection of tiny moments, glances, statements and memories – all of which are smaller parts of the collection body of work we call a life well lived. As in life as a whole, the little decisions and challenges matter greatly in the course of a weight loss campaign. I’ve been navigating a tricky landscape of ice cream scoops, candy bars and fried foods and each of those decisions impacts the rest of my life. For example, if I allow myself that Snickers Dark bar at the grocery store on the way home from work I will essentially cancel out my workout – as the candy is over 300 calories and the treadmill walk tends to burn about 230. What a colossal waste of time it would be then, to visit the gym at all. So, if I were to eat the candy I would probably skip the gym all together and spiral downward from there. All because of a single Snickers bar – no exaggeration.
Luckily, I have been super cognizant of this fact and have managed to, for the last two weeks, sidestep those tasty landmines and, in conjunction with hitting the gym 4 out of the 5 workday afternoons, now consider myself on the path of health and general well being. What I must do though, even with a positive two weeks stretch in the rearview mirror, is to always remember what one slip up is capable of doing to my progress – much like, I imagine, an individual recovering from an addiction. A recent and great example of my ability to say no to some of my favorite stuff from time to time occurred just yesterday when my gals and I stopped off for ice cream after the zoo. I passed. Yes, that is right for the first time, maybe ever, I said no to an ice cream cone. Everything now is a decision I am in control enough to make. I look into the eyes of my 3 year old and see the future, not just hers but that of mine as a well-bodied man watching my girls grow up into smart, bold and confident women. I see that I can do it, that I can make a change that will impact far more than just me. And that has a smile planted firmly on my fatherly face.
Have a great weekend everyone.
Dad’s Losing It articles are published every Saturday and Tuesday. Follow Jeff’s journey during the rest of the week in the Dad’s Losing It Forum. In the Forum, Jeff discusses his individual workout routines and soundtracks, among other tidbits and musings from the week.
Jeff is a Family Fun blogger. Read more of his posts here.