If I had to sum it up in one word, I would say that the secret to my before and after pic (and keeping the 30 lbs. off for 3 years) is LIFESTYLE. Yes, we all have that one friend who quit drinking, took up running, and a year later looks five years younger...but what is the true key to changing your lifestyle? I believe it begins with one habit at a time. Keystone habits are ones that once started and stuck to, spark an upward spiral. For example, quitting smoking or drinking, beginning to meditate or starting to exercise have all been shown to help people increase willpower in other areas of their life such as finances, health, and even cleanliness. For a blog on keystone habits click here. But if you're looking for a quick anecdote, I'd like to share my story.
An upward spiral is something that is hard to get started but just like it takes more to move a train from 0 MPH to 1 MPH than from 1 to 2 MPH, a little momentum goes a long way. So get started however you can because once you start it's hard to stop. I started practicing yoga 21 years ago, but it wasn't until I started meditating seriously 8 years ago that I started seeing substantial effects in almost every area of my life year after year. After meditating for a couple years, I married the love of my life which has helped me grow in so many ways. Next I joined Weight Watchers (which I highly recommend) which helped me pinpoint some of my weaknesses. Then I started to exercise everyday. I started with walking around my neighborhood because it was easy and could be done almost everyday of the year. I quit drinking any type of alcohol for the last five years. I discovered a food allergy (gluten) and eliminating it drastically improved my digestive health. After meditating for many years my sleep got sweeter and I worried less, making my work life more enjoyable and less stressful because I wasn't chronically tired or anxious. I began listening to audiobooks on my commute, but focused almost exclusively on nonfiction. I researched organization and productivity and began using the GTD method. For more information, click here. This provided a lot of mental clarity which also improved my work flow - whether working out or meditating things just were less stressful due to distributive cognition. Previous to that, I went on a decluttering kick that lasted for 4 years and I plan to continue to revisit for the rest of my adult life. I read voraciously on the subject of decluttering, tidying up and organizing. I can now say the mental clarity I have is reflected in my home/work space as well. Next, I went on a vegan challenge and tried incorporating one vegan meal per day, reducing my animal-based products, increasing my fiber and nutrient intake. All of these habits occurred slowly and unfolded over time - about 10 years. I'd like to say that I've cut down on chocolate, coffee, and shopping...but hey! Nobody's perfect. I wasn't always like this. My husband likes to remind me of a picture he once took of the passenger side of my car that had so much garbage in it he couldn't get in with his long legs. Well, as the saying goes, "Every saint has a past, and every sinner has a future." I like to quip that my 20-something-self would be very bored by my almost-40-something-self. But honestly, I'm proud of my upward spiral. I worked really hard for the last 10 years to become the person I am today and it all started with one little keystone habit and the commitment to never quit or back down. It doesn't matter how slow you go. My nickname in my family is "Steady Betty" because I go slow but never stop. My brother likes to compare me to the tortoise in Aesop's fable, "The Tortoise and the Hare". But above all I'm inspired by other people's stories, whether they are at the top of their game or the end of their rope - just set an intention to start and never give up. For advice on starting small, read this blog. Don't wait for New Year's to set your resolution. Your future could be one long upward spiral if you just set the intention, start small, choose a keystone habit, and never give up. As for me...I'm still working on myself. All my best, Betty Lynn
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AuthorBetty Lynn is an writer, educator, artist, illustrator and yoga teacher living in the suburbs of New York City. Archives
October 2019
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