I was scheduled to write about the Alternate Day Diet today, but after looking back through my blog archive for what I’d written about it previously, I think that the previous posts largely speak for themselves.
With the launch of Faith Janes’ Minimize Yo’ Butt this last Monday though, I would like to talk about the goals that some of us have for this challenge, and inject a dose of common sense that I had to learn the hard way.
The common sense is “ease into it”. I could end the post here, actually.
The problem is, nobody listens to advice that simple. I know I didn’t when I started hitting the gym again about 7 years ago. A couple of workouts, a few-week burst of diet and exercise, and I was tired, sore, and in pain. That ended that diet plan.
You owe it to yourself to make this work, and that requires taking the time to do it right. Toward that end, I have one tip, one warning, and some closing advice.
More Onions, Please – Successive Approximation
The tip comes by way of a friend of mine – a friend who loves onions. His mother had a recipe that she always made, but she never put enough onions in it for his taste. He knew exactly three things:
- He wanted more onions
- She wouldn’t put more in voluntarily
- She always followed the recipe card exactly
Knowing this, he knew what he had to do.
Every couple of times she made the recipe, he’d steal the recipe card. He meticulously copied the recipe, and increased the onions a little bit at a time. Not a lot, mind you (1/4 cup to 1/3 cup, then 1/2 cup, then 2/3 cup, etc.), but enough so that he eventually got the extra onions he wanted.
His mother never noticed, because the steps were small and infrequent enough that it never aroused suspicion.
Yes, that’s a lot of work for some extra onions – and fortunately, that’s not the point of the story.
Your body a lot like my friend’s mother. It doesn’t particularly want to change, and it may make your life uncomfortable if you challenge it head-on – but you can talk your body into doing almost anything if you make the changes gradually.
Ease into it – the changes will be slower, but you’ll handle them better. I promise!
#!@%^! Muscles – Sports-Related Injuries
It helps to note that when it comes to the “move more” part of Minimize Yo’ Butt, we’re talking about something called “exercise”.
Whether you label it as exercise or not, whether you do it at a gym or at home, and whether you’re young or old, all physical activity comes with some risk of injury.
Nothing, and I really mean nothing, will put you back on your maximized butt faster, longer, or more permanently than an injury.
This isn’t to scare you. Exercise is one of the least-scary things in life, actually. But you need to have your eyes open and your brain engaged when you plan your routine!
A 30-, 40-, or 50-year old body doesn’t move like an 18 year old’s. The fact that you were a championship runner, power lifter, or gymnast in high school means dime squat ten years later if you haven’t kept up practice.
If you’re just getting back into exercising, do yourself a huge favor and pay careful attention to your body.
Ease into it – the changes will be slower, but you’ll be able to catch potential problems before they become major issues. You’ll be better off for it – I promise!
Set Reasonable Goals
Minimize Yo’ Butt is all about making healthy changes, and the initial excitement of starting a diet & exercise plan can be pretty intense. It’s easy to want to jump in head-first, and change everything all at once.
Using successive approximation and avoiding injuries means setting reasonable goals that don’t completely turn your lifestyle on its head. Here’s a few examples:
- Instead of swearing off dessert completely, eat it half as often as you used to
- Add an extra helping of veggies to a meal every couple of days, rather than re-planning your entire diet around them
- If you don’t jog or run right now, start by adding a couple laps around your block to your daily routine
- If you want to start going to the gym, go a couple times a week (with at least a day in between), rather than starting out with five times per week
I know, these aren’t spectacular or glamorous – but they won’t burn you out your first week, either.
The number one reason diets and other health kicks fail is that the changes don’t get incorporated into the person’s lifestyle, and they can’t sustain them long-term. Easing in will help you get and maintain the long-term change you’re looking for.
The Bottom Line
Just remember, this isn’t a race.
A plan that permanently changes your diet & exercise habits to let you lose a pound every two weeks (and keep it off) is infinitely better than a quick-fix plan that drops you 50 lbs in 6 months, only to have you gain it all back (and then some!) a year later.
Don’t sacrifice your future for a few cheap short-term gains. Yes, make the changes – but take the time to ease them in and integrate them into your lifestyle.
Now get out there and Minimize Yo’ Butt!