I'm Worth It

I was talking with someone the other day and I was telling him about my journey. During our conversation, I had to go back to the very beginning. I hadn’t really thought about that day in a long while. The day of sitting out by the water, the day of scarfing down a huge hamburger and fries and a beer or two. That day was sunny— September in Florida, you can’t beat it— and I think the pelicans and seagulls were craving the fries as much as I was. I still remember how the mood instantly changed. We had all been joking and kidding, probably about the fry eating birds, and then in the blink of an eye, the conversation turned serious.  

As I said in “Starting the Journey”, my family was concerned for my health and my well being. In fact, they were so concerned that they were willing to pay the extortion fees that are required if one chooses to have gastric by-pass surgery. That they were making me this offer was both shocking and eye-opening. But the thought that permeated my brain was this: I’m not worth it. I’m not worth the one zillion dollars (ok, it’s not that much, but it might as well have been) they were willing to sacrifice for me. Now, I’m sure in their eyes, I would have been worth one zillion and one dollars, but I didn’t feel I was worthy or deserving of their offer. So, I turned them down. I told them that if change was going to happen, I wasn’t going to take the surgery route, I had to do the hard work on my own.

So now, if you fast forward the journey just a bit, two years to be exact, I’ve learned a lot. A lot about what I can do, a lot about who I am and a lot about who I used to be. But, by far, the most important thing I’ve learned is that on that beautiful September day, at the restaurant on the water, I was wrong. I am worth it. I’m not saying that I’m worth a zillion dollars (I mean, really, c’mon...I’m worth at least twice that!) No, what I’m saying is that I am worth the love, the concern, the care and the fear that my family went through in order to have the heart to heart conversation that they had with me that day. It changed my life. Hell, it saved my life!

So, I guess you are asking yourself how this fits into my “Road Trip”. Well, actually this reminds me of a little pull-off on along 515 between Jasper and Ellijay in North Georgia...it’s just a little ramp along the side of the road for people to stop and get out of their cars in order to really appreciate the beautiful mountain scenery that surrounds them. For me, this scenic view pull-off is to allow me the opportunity to thank those who have encouraged and inspired me along the way. I wouldn’t be who I am if it weren’t for those who surround me. I may not have taken the offer, but I still can never repay them for what they've given to me.

Running Out of Gas Doesn't Mean the End of Your Journey

Early on, I wrote about being sidelined on your road trip in the post Broken Down on the Side of the Road. And, while there are many things that can (and will) derail your expedition for an extended amount of time, there are also some minor bumps in the road that will probably arise. I’m sure it’s not as common as it once was, but running out of gas is a real possibility when you drive for any length of time. With all the new technology in cars, it’s a little easier to keep up with how much gas you have remaining, but people still find ways to run out, trust me. I mean, haven’t you ever seen those poor souls walking along the side of the road with their little red gas cans? I know I have. 

I’ve discovered that running low— or out— of gas can happen in my figurative journey, as well. Just this past week, I celebrated my two year anniversary in WW. Now I can tell you for a fact that, over the course of those two years, there were many times where I either ran completely out of gas or was simply running on fumes. So I did what anyone else would have when the gauge approached “E”...I stopped to refuel. You can’t just keep driving full speed ahead and not expect to run down along the way. It’s best to stop every so often, get out of the car and stretch your legs. If you don’t do that, you may find yourself more permanently sidelined. Once fatigue sets in, that’s when accidents happen. If I let my mind wander, I stop paying attention to what I’m doing and that’s when I mess up. But, stopping to refuel gives me the opportunity to make sure my vehicle has what it needs to continue on, and so do I. 

I also think about when I’m driving to Atlanta, I always race against myself. If it takes me 9 hours and 15 minutes one time, the next, I would really like to make around 9 hours. Now, of course, all traffic laws must be obeyed, but I know that those few extra little stops along the way actually work in my favor. The extra strong coffee from Starbucks or the cold water splash on my face at the Florida-Georgia Line all help me achieve that goal of beating my previous time. I can hear your skepticism now, “how does more stops equate to a better travel time?” It’s simple, doing little things along the way to keep you moving forward and also reduces down-time if you require longer stops to combat your fatigue. 

Everything about this journey is about continuing to move forward, and sometimes we do have to move sideways or even backwards to keep going in the right direction. So don’t let yourself run out of gas. Keep one eye on the gauge and the other on the road ahead of you. When you feel it’s time to stop and gas up, don’t talk yourself out of it. Nobody can carry on a crazy, super-human pace without the proper amount—and type—of fuel.

Make Sure You Take Care of Your Vehicle

If you own a car, you know that in order for it to continue to run properly, you have to keep up with maintenance and service. In other words, if you expect the car to get you from Point A to Point B in reliable fashion, you must keep up with the oil changes, tire rotations and even car washes. The obvious comparison to my journey isn’t much different: since the vehicle for my road trip is my body, I have to make sure that it is in working order so that I make it to my destination. 

I look at starting the WW plan as the beginning, sort of like test driving a car before deciding to purchase it. But then, as I got more involved with the program, I realized that I had to step up my game to stay on course, much like taking a car in for an oil change. Then I started doing other things that helped take my journey to the next level. Things like weight training, kick boxing, even occasionally doing some interval jogging on the treadmill. All part of the maintenance of my vehicle. 

But it wasn’t just the big decisions that have had an impact my success. The small, seemingly innocuous decisions have also added up to positive results. Deciding to write this blog, buying an ActiveLink (or any other type of activity monitor) and of course, the purchase of the treadmill are all little choices that I made to improve the road trip; however, had I chosen to not make any of those decisions, my journey would have still been successful, but probably just a tad boring. I look at these ancillary choices like getting my car washed — I can still get where I want to go in a dirty car, but it makes the trip more fun to be driving down the road in a clean one. 

The important take-away here is to remember that you will be driving for a while and it makes sense to ensure that the car you are driving is fun, safe, reliable and will get you where you want to go. I mean, that’s why we are all on this journey, right? To make sure that the ride along the way is enjoyable? So, keep up with the little things and hopefully you start to notice that the journey does get easier as you get further down the road. Or, perhaps it’s not that it’s getting easier, maybe you are just getting stronger and are better equipped with your ability to handle the twists and turns of the open road.

Don't Text and Drive

We've all heard the PSAs and the news stories about the devastating statistics surrounding texting and driving. The reason why you shouldn't text while driving is simple: it’s distracting. If you are fumbling with your phone (texting or dialing or Tweeting or Facebooking) you are not paying attention to what you are doing. If you’re not careful, disaster could strike because of not focusing on the task at hand. I have found out that there are plenty of distractions that pop up on my personal road trip, as well.

 

Everyday, I am faced with distractions that jump out in front of me like a ball that was errantly thrown into the street. I know that I must keep my eyes on the road so that I can be prepared to maneuver around these obstacles that come out of nowhere. I like to control my environment so as to keep such distractions to a minimum, but life will— more often than not— get in the way, so I have to be ready. Now, that’s not to say that I walk around like a ninja ready to pounce on unsuspecting prey, but I do stay focused by asking myself this one question: “Is it worth it?” Most of the time, I know that the answer is no; however, there are times where the answer has been a resounding “yes!!” (Hmmm, could that be considered “texting at a red light”? Probably) But, as I have said so many times here, this journey that we are on, is supposed to be enjoyable. I understand that living life like a mouse trap always waiting to spring, but never knowing if or when you will break, doesn't sound like a lot of fun. It's certainly not the way I would want to live, so I have learned to manage my distractions.

 

Now, I know me, and if I were to go to a broccoli factory and they said “you can eat until your satisfied”, I’m pretty sure I'd just turn around and walk away. Now, an all-you-can-eat chocolate/coconut/macaroon facility? Now we’re talking! But here’s the thing, if I stay focused on my destination, I don't let anything distract me from reaching that destination and I walk in there with all the self-control I can muster, I know that I will be able to keep my vehicle under control and allow myself the opportunity to splurge. The bonus is that since nothing is off limits with the WW plan, it's not really cheating!

 

Wait, what was my point? Once I started thinking about a macaroon factory, I got distracted from what I was trying to say. Ironically, I believe I just made my point. Don't let silly little things derail what you have worked so hard to accomplish. You are on this journey for a reason and have an important goal that you are trying to reach, so don't take your eyes off the road, not even for a second, because it could be disastrous for your road trip.

Picking Up Hitchhikers

I realize that, in the real world, it is never a good idea to pick up strangers along the side of the road and drive them to their destination. I mean really, we all know how that movie ends! However, sometimes in your own private road trip, it may be necessary to stop and let others in your car. As I’ve mentioned before (in Road Trip Buddies), it is important that you share your journey; however, it may often prove necessary for you to stop your car and offer to help someone get back on the road. Many times this “someone” will be part of your own inner-circle, so while it’s not technically picking up a hitchhiker, it does qualify as helping someone who is stranded get from point A to point B. 

While others may be excited for you during your successful journey, it still may be hard for them to willingly acknowledge that they are really ready for their own road trip.  So, it is extremely important that you understand whether your buddies want to come along for the ride or are still trying to map out their route. After all, if they aren’t willing passengers, it could make both your journeys a little less enjoyable, because you may end up fighting over silly things like the radio station, the temperature or even what games to play along the way! Also, you will want to be cognizant of the fact that sooner or later, your passengers may want to get out of your car and get into their own. Let them, that is the only way they will be able to celebrate when they get to their own destination.  

The most important thing to keep in mind is that this journey is supposed to be fun! Whether you are by yourself, with a few close friends or a group of people you picked up along the way, have fun with it. Life is too short to sit on the sidelines and watch others accomplish their goals, wishing you could do the same. Treat life like a pool— jump in, splash around and play until you get wrinkled, then play some more.

Putting the Pedal to the Metal

I think the phrase “put the pedal to the metal” is a cliché expression from a bygone era. I bet anyone born after 1995 couldn’t tell you where this little idiom originated. Well, cars used to have metal floor boards and, to go as fast as possible, you would press the gas pedal all the way to the floor in hopes of out-running whatever was chasing you! (I just conjured up an image of Smokey and the Bandit, didn’t I?) Anyway, I can see all the head-scratching going on right now, as you sit there wondering why it is that I am resurrecting the origins of some random phrase. Well, trust me Road Trippers, there is a reason, have I ever led you astray? 

Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in a Twitter Town Hall with one of the victors from last year’s WW Success Story contest. After hitting a minor bump, I needed reassurance that it is possible to make it to my final destination. Robin was very encouraging and gave me some awesome suggestions. The one I took most to heart was a suggestion to mix up my workout routine. I decided right then and there to do something I’d been avoiding…start a real, honest-to-goodness workout.  Walking has been extremely instrumental in getting me this far, but I had to do something…I had to put the pedal to the metal!  

 

I was talking with one of my friends about how I could spice up my exercise life, and she told me about a workout DVD that has 20 minute workout segments on it. Now, I have always been led to believe that a good, quality workout should last about 3-4 hours! OK, just kidding about that, but I figured it would have to be at least an hour to be worthwhile. Boy oh boy, was I wrong! The DVD in question happens to be put out by one of the instructors of that famous TV show where really heavy people compete in grueling challenges to lose a lot of weight (ok, you got me, I’m talking about The Biggest Loser). If ever there was a physical incarnation of “putting the pedal to the metal” this "shredded" workout is it! Now, I haven’t had a weigh-in yet to see how this will play out in my numbers, but after doing Level 1 of this workout religiously, every day for a week, I can tell a difference in how I feel. I may not see a change in the scale this week or next– and, let’s be honest, the scale doesn’t tell the whole story anyway– but I know that this will be turbo-boost I needed to add to my repertoire in order to get to my goal weight so that I can start the next phase of my journey: maintenance.  

So, when you reach a point along the way where you feel you are stalled, go ahead and put the pedal to the metal and find that one little thing, that one tiny change that kicks your motivation into high gear so that you can get back on the road!

Appreciate Just How Far You've Come

I know that in previous posts, I’ve mentioned that is a good idea to enjoy the scenery, take in the experiences along the way, listen to the music to keep distracted (or stay focused!) or any number of other suggestions so that the road trip continues to be worthwhile. Well, add this one to the list: appreciate just how far you’ve come in your journey.

I was talking with a friend the other day and we were discussing some of the more obvious physical changes that I have gone through. As an outsider, it is easier for her to see them than it is for me since I am so accustomed to my old appearance. Now, keep in mind that I have never been one to take compliments very well, and anybody who has known me longer than five minutes can attest to that, but it dawned on me, as our conversation continued, that I really needed to take a step back and realize just how far I have come. But here's where things get tricky— there is a fine line between appreciating hard work and bragging in order to boost your own ego! I believe that if you have worked hard for something (a college degree, a new home, a transformed body, etc.), you should take time to appreciate your accomplishment. It’s OK to take pride in reaching your goals because you just might inspire others to evaluate their lives and head on out on their very own road trip.

So, in thinking about where I am, where I want to be and what I plan to do once I get to my destination, it is imperative that I must also think about where I started. Knowing how far you’ve travelled is as important as knowing how far you’ve yet to go, and being able to actually appreciate those miles is more important than anything.  It’s kind of funny, because once again, I am reminded of  part of another one of Robert Frost's works of art, “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”:

 

“But I have promises to keep,  

And miles to go before I sleep,

And miles to go before I sleep.”

 

I have made promises to my mind, to my body, to my family, to my friends, to my WW leader and group, to my blog readers and I have even made promises to people whom I have never met. So, yes, while I still I have miles to go and promises to keep, I must also remember to appreciate every last second of this journey before I sleep!