Whether you are losing weight or have reached your goal, it
is important to keep your body moving. The good news is that almost any kind of
movement will do as long as you do it and keep doing it. In order to be
effective, however, staying active needs to be a long-term commitment that does
not end when you have lost all the weight you want to lose.
According to the National Weight Loss Registry, engaging in
a consistent activity program is a key element in the maintenance of any weight
loss success. Did I say long-term commitment? I meant life-long commitment.
Yes, that means that movement needs to become part of your life. That may sound
like some kind of prison sentence but if you do something you really enjoy
doing it’s not that difficult.
When I kayak I have some unbelievable workout partners,
ducks, geese, osprey and loons. There is no better way to “work out” then to do
something you love to do. My “gym” is a million miles long and a million miles
across, and I will never get to see the whole thing; that’s pretty amazing. The
peace and euphoria that this routine brings me sets the tone for my entire day
and can last for a week.
Yup, I sure do love to kayak. The problem is that even when
you love to do something, the motivation to keep going can still evaporate.
Next thing you know, a month or a year goes by and you’re no longer doing
anything. The secret to holding on to your motivation is to maintain a deep connection
to all that is good about what you are doing. Still, holding on can be difficult.
It was a cold, rainy and windy start to the kayaking season
and I don't mind telling you that I was losing my kayaking MoJo (Motivational Joy -- not to be confused
with the Cuban Spice also known as MoJo.) I remember too many mornings at the
beginning of the season where I just stood on the beach, cold and wet, only to
turn around and go home. I did nothing to really move my body on those days and
I really felt lousy because of it. It was a bad habit in the making.
One of the main lessons that the challenges in my life have
taught me is that every human being has the potential to be better. Certainly,
losing over 200 pounds was a challenge but keeping it off- is takin’ some work
too! Throughout my weight loss journey I began to see this process of success
develop. I began to recognize that the path to the life I really wanted could
only be walked one step at a time. I learned that all I had to do was to develop
one good habit at a time and stick with it. After a while that good habit became
easy and it was time to make a better habit. I discovered that all I needed to
do in order to stay on this path of improvement was to just keep collecting
these small, positive changes. After a while, I developed a system that allowed
me to focus on the changes that best suited me.
I call this system Betterness ®. Simply put; Betterness ® is
defined as the process of radical life improvement through the accumulation of
small but consistently performed positive changes. Although there is way more
to the actual system than that, the key here is that you need to keep doing
what you are doing. In the case of my daily kayaking “habit” all I had to do
was keep on doing it. Unfortunately, sometimes Betterness just that ain’t that
easy.
I define “Action Giving” as the act of giving by doing
something physical. This kind of charity is not only good for you but it gives
you the opportunity to make a real difference in the lives of others. It is an
awesome way to stay motivated to keep your body moving. Yes, even I, with my
professed love for kayaking can use a motivational boost.
My MoJo was rescued back in 2007 by the Paddle for Humanity.
The paddle for humanity is an 18 mile open ocean charity paddle from Montauk,
NY to Block Island, RI. It is held every year in early September. Who would have believed that the same 400 pound
man struggling to stay on an exercise bike for 5 minutes would cross almost 20
miles of Open Ocean in a 15 foot kayak? Believe it! I did it for three years and
this year I am going out on my own to do a charity kayak of almost 300 miles
around Long Island!
How did this give my MoJo back? All I needed to do to get my
MoJo going was to think about all the people whose lives might change if I
could keep paddling. I knew the only way for me to endure the grueling 18 miles
to Block was to get my butt into that boat and paddle - every day. Since
getting started is always the hardest part, all I needed was a little shot of
MoJo and soon I was blissfully ripping along like always. As I continued to train,
I stayed motivated by getting sponsors. I knew that people were depending on ME
and I was not going to let them down. I knew that when I finally left the
safety of Montauk, I would not be alone. I would have all of the collective
energy of my sponsors and their beneficiaries behind me. As I paddled, I
couldn’t help thinking about the real people whose lives will be made better by
the causes we were supporting. I am truly grateful that I am able to make a
difference in the world, contribute to my own wellbeing and do something I love
to do in the process. This kind of giving is a great way to stay motivated on
the sometimes difficult road of Betterness.
As it turns out, often a little motivation is all we really
need. If you don’t think action giving is powerfully motivating, it is only
because you have not yet experienced it. Yes, you too can be an “action giver”
and don't have to risk shark attacks, muscle cramps, being lost at sea or even
getting wet. OK, so I’m being dramatic. When I do these crazy paddles, they are
actually extremely well organized and safe there is no chance of being lost at
sea, the sharks out there are well fed enough to leave us paddlers alone and my
training keeps the muscle cramps away. I am quite sure, however, that staying
dry is not an option. So, if getting wet is not your thing, there are many good
causes that will get you moving.
Perhaps the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life is the
most familiar to you. Did you also know that the Obesity Action Coalition and
the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery jointly organize the
walk from obesity? (http://www.walkfromobesity.com/)The proceeds from this
event support obesity research and obesity advocacy. If you are overweight, as
I was, and ever felt isolated, alone and misunderstood, this is a great cause for
you to support! The march of dimes also comes to mind. These events are held
all over the country at various times which gives you plenty of opportunities
to get involved. I encourage you to find your own way of Action Giving.
When you do sign up, treat the event as true commitment to
yourself as well as the beneficiaries of the event itself. Think of your
participation as a reason for you to do better, fell better and BE better. Set your
mind to the belief that the more you train, the more you AND the world will
benefit. Honestly, you can change the world with just one positive thought
provided it is followed by an action. So be active! Don’t just show up on the
day of the event and expect to simply stroll around. When you get there, seek
to be an example to everyone else. Since you have trained, you will not only
feel better, you will look better as well. You will exude an enthusiasm that will
be infectious. The way you look feel and act will attract attention. People
will want to know about your new Betterness and you will inspire them. Who
knows, your Betterness might even cause someone at the event to hop on the road
to Betterness with you. If they did, it would certainly make their life better
and it could even lead to a longer, more productive life for them. Think about
this: If you can make other people better simply by being better yourself, YOUR Betterness
is not a gift you give only to yourself; it is your gift to the world.
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