Commonalities of the Super Bowl and Weight Loss

I love those lists of “Lessons I’ve Learned From My Dog, My Cat, My Lawmower, etc.”  They are funny and cute yet meaningful and have a commonality that speaks to me.

The Super Bowl is right around the corner.  With a husband and two sons, the chatter and banter of the Super Bowl are already going on in my house.

In the spirit of the Superbowl, here are 10 Weight Loss Touchdown Tips:

1. Planning is key.
You don’t win the game without planning and strategy. The same is true when it comes to weight loss and healthy eating.  If you leave your food choices to chance, the chances are you’ll find yourself making unhealthy food choices.  Eating snacks, junk food with sugar and fats at the top of the game of food choices will turn out to be the result of poor planning and no strategy.  Rather than tackling your daily food choices without any plan or strategies, pull out a sheet of paper and a pen to draw out your plan of attack. Turn to your food log or food journal and create your game plan of food for the day.

2. You gotta wanna.
Teams don’t get to the Super Bowl simply by luck. The players have a burning desire to win. You won’t get lose weight unless you truly want to. You must have a passion to make healthy food choices, exercise and incorporate regular activity and movement, take your high quality vitamins regularly, and drink 64 ounces of water per day.  You gotta wanna do what it takes to reach your weight loss goals.

3. Go for the goals.
There are both major goals and mini-goals in football. One of the most common major goals during a football game is to score touchdowns and win the game. But it’s also important to think about the mini goals. Take the field, for instance. One hundreds yards is broken down into 10 yards each. The offensive team has to make it 10 yards at a time to achieve a ‘first down.’ They don’t have to make it 100 yards all at once. Take your major goals of losing weight and break it down into smaller, more achievable goals. You’ll be less overwhelmed, and you’ll have a sense of accomplishment along your journey.  For example, tackle one habit you want to change each month – master the exchange of habit and move on to another habit the next month.

4. Give yourself reasonable time limits.
In football, there are always time limits. Each game is broken down into four 15-minute quarters . Challenge yourself by setting realistic timeframe to accomplish your goal.  If you want to lose 50 pounds, you won’t lose it in a month (in a healthy, realistic way).  You didn’t gain the 50 pounds in a short period of time so give yourself adequate time to lose is slow and healthfully, and you’ll lose it once and for all.

5. Teamwork is so important.
Football players know that they cannot win football games without the help of their teammates. Each person on the team is assigned different tasks. When losing weight, get a team of support.  Build your support team with family, friends, and a weight loss or weight loss surgery support group.  Also, teams have a coach which is instrumental to a team’s success.  Get your own weight loss coach to be your coach for your weight loss success.

6. Pass the ball.
A quarterback knows that he can’t get the touchdowns by himself. He must pass the ball to other players. What duties or responsibilities can you pass to others to allow yourself time to get in exercise, grocery shopping for healthy food choices or other tasks that promote your weight loss goal?

7. Take some time outs.
Time-outs are periods during the football game that stop the game clock and allow players to rest and/or go over plays with the coach. Sometimes, it’s necessary for you to take some ‘time outs’ in your day. These are best taken when you’re feeling overwhelmed, or when something is distracting you or when you simply need a break. A 5 to 15 minute time-out can help you to clear your mind and rejuvenate your energy. Take a quick walk. Take a short nap. Call a friend and release some of your stress. Enjoy a healthy snack. Do whatever is necessary for you to return to your task feeling refreshed.

8. Get yourself a cup of motivation.
It can be depressing to work on something that you don’t feel motivated about. Football players rely on fans to keep them motivated and enthusiastic. Get your own cheering section. Tell a friend or co-worker you’re trying to lose weight or get on track, and ask him or her to encourage you. Tell a family member what you’re trying to accomplish. Ask this person to cheer you on along the way.  When other people are involved in your goals and accomplishments, it gives you a good reason to excel.

9. Have a vision.
Football players have a very clear vision at the beginning of the year, of what they want to achieve. A common shared vision is making it to the Super Bowl and winning the game.  What is your vision? Do you want to weigh a certain weight or wear a certain size or accomplish some other non-scale victory?

Now you have something to strive towards every day. You might post a photo, or something that reminds you of reaching your goal, where you can see it every day. This will give you a vision, and a daily reminder to achieve that vision.

10. Celebrate your wins.
Every time a touchdown occurs in football, the players celebrate that accomplishment. When a team wins the Super Bowl, there’s a major celebration. Celebrate the wins in your life. Designate some rewards for accomplishing your mini-goals. They don’t have to be expensive rewards. They can be as simple as watching your favorite movie tonight, or going window-shopping in the mall, or having a cup of hot tea by the fireplace. And when you accomplish some major goals, have a big celebration. You deserve to have some fun after all your hard work!

As you watch the upcoming Super Bowl, let it reinforce your own personal Super Bowl victory and championship.  Yeah YOU!

Believe In Yourself,
Cathy, CLC
Certified Life Coach, Weight Loss Surgery Coach
Certified Back On Track Facilitator