The Bandwagon

I was wondering recently how I can make exercise and healthful eating a consistent and long term part of my life.  Not just for this week, not just for the next 100 days, but for the rest of my life.  I began to think of the things I do every single day.  The first thing that came to mind was brushing my teeth.  I brush my teeth every morning and every night.  I've done that for as long as I can remember.  I tried to imagine my life without brushing my teeth, and I couldn't.  It is a habit that I don't ever see myself getting out of. Then I started to think about the bandwagon mentality in regards to brushing my teeth.  If I skipped brushing my teeth (for whatever reason) would I wait until Monday to brush them again?  Absolutely not.  I probably wouldn't even wait until it was time for the next brushing.  I would go immediately and brush my teeth as soon as I made the realization that they were unbrushed. 

There is a crazy mind game that I go through in regards to falling off the bandwagon.  If I eat something I know I shouldn't (or eat too much of something I know I shouldn't), or if I don't exercise one day, that somehow gives me permission to keep eating what I shouldn't eat and pause the exercise until Monday, or whenever I get the motivation to start again.

The brushing teeth analogy has made me realize that while there will certainly be days that I don't feel like eating right or exercising, I don't have to stay off the bandwagon for a week, a day, or even an hour.  I can grab a handful of carrots, do a few squats or jumping jacks and get right back on. 

I will know I have succeeded when eating right and exercise are as much a part of my daily life as brushing my teeth...when I can't imagine my life without it.  When something is important to us, we do it.  Period. 

In other news, we met our trainer yesterday.  This is going to be AWESOME!!!  I can't wait to have him kick our trash twice a week.