New Motivation: The Power of “Just One”

Last summer, my husband completed a Half Iron Man. That’s a 1.2-mile swim, a 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1 mile run. I don’t care who you are, that’s a lot of freaking cardio. Especially for a man who hates running. Prior to that day, he had never run 13.1 miles in one shot in his life, let alone following a 1.2 mile swim and a 56-mile ride. To say the run was his weakest event and the one he feared the most, would be an accurate statement.

Yet, my man totally rocked it. Not only did he complete the triathlon, but he did so in 5 hours, 13 minutes. Which is fantastic, by the way. And I’m not just saying that cuz I’m his wife. It really is fantastic.

I asked him how he made it through that run. I mean, I’m a girl who also hates running. The longest I’ve ever run is maybe 4 miles. And it was grueling. Knowing that my husband hates running too, I could not fathom the mental anguish of knowing he had to run at least two hours before he was finished with that crazy race.

This is what he said:

“I just tried to concentrate on making it to the next mile. At mile-one, I only thought about making it to mile-two. At mile-two, I only thought about making it to mile-three. If I would have thought about mile-thirteen when I was on mile-one, I would have quit. No doubt about it.”

I’m taking his advice and running with it. (Bad pun intended)

What if we did that with our weight-loss goals? What if, instead of setting out to lose 10 pounds or 25 pounds or 100 pounds, we focused on losing one pound? And then when we lost that first pound, we only concentrated on losing the next pound?

What do you think that would do for our psyche? How much more would our motivation soar if we cut down our giant-sized goal into one little very realistic goal?

In the fall of 2009, because of prescribed medication and through no fault of my own, I gained 18 pounds. Since that time, I have been diligently trying to lose those 18 pounds. I have done everything right. I weaned off the medication. I’ve eaten well. I’ve exercised my butt off. But my body really, really likes those 18 pounds. It’s nutty. And totally not cool.

I can tell you, as the months (and YEARS) drone on, my motivation to lose 18 pounds and get back into my size 4 jeans continues to dwindle.

Maybe you can relate. Maybe you set out to lose a chunk of weight this year, but as January turned in to February, and February merges into March, you step on the scale to see it still reflecting the number it read on New Year’s Day. Or maybe, like me, you’ve been at it for longer than two months. Maybe it’s been years. You’re tired of trying, and you are ready to give up this event and call it a day.

If that’s you, listen up.

Today is a new day, my friend. Today I have new-found motivation. Because today, I’m not trying to lose 18 pounds. Today, I’m trying to lose ONE POUND. Just one. That’s all. I can do that. I can lose ONE POUND.

Shoot, ANYONE can lose just one pound! It may take a while, but I’m confident in my ability to lose just one pound.

In fact, I am confident in YOUR ability to lose just one pound, too.

Today, let’s not worry about Pound –Two or Pound-Ten or Pound-Eighteen. Today, let’s only concentrate on losing Pound-One.

What do you say? Who will join me in this race?