Day 1. Habit Stack Challenge: Mindset Matters Most

 To start off the year 2024 I am participating in a "Habit Stacking Challenge".  Basically it's to focus on some key Habits that we need to succeed.  It's not the Goal that will get you to where you want to go, but your Habits!!  If we don't establish Habits in our life, we'll just fall back into old patterns and Habits we've been repeating over and over again most of our lives.  So often, we say, "that's just the way I am," when in actuality it is just a Habit we've repeated so many times we don't even think about what we are doing anymore.  For example, falling into a pattern of eating pizza and other easy foods, because we've become so accustomed to those easy habits in life we don't have to think about.  That even goes for the way we've been thinking and believing about things.  

Whether we believe we can or we can't, we're right!  Ultimately, everything comes back to our mindset because our mindset will dictate the actions we take! 

So, for Day 1: Mindset Matters Most, it is to come up with my own 3 quotes that will help create that mindset for success. 

1. Push yourself, because No One else is going to do it for you!  I chose this because when I am home in my own world, none of my fellow fitness comrades are there to tell be to get out in the garage for my workout or in the kitchen with me making sure I'm eating the right foods that will help me reach my health/fitness goals.  No one is there looking over my shoulder telling me what to and not to eat.  I have to do this on my own!  Even my husband will not truly make me chose the right things for my goals.  Nor will he tell me to get out in the garage to do my workout. I HAVE to make those choices for myself!! 

2.  You Either Quit, or Keep Going! They Both Hurt!  I saw this quote recently on Facebook and felt it was very appropriate and true!!  I feel like I've done both!! At different times over the years I've done both of these things.  I've kept going when I didn't really feel like it. I've also just kind of quit many times over the years, too.  Quitting Hurts!! Because I know in my heart that I should just keep going, but I don't.  And then I feel bad about myself and my self-confidence lowers and I get upset and beat myself up for having not kept going, for whatever reason.  Sometimes it feels so much easier to just not put in the effort.  But in actuality, It Hurts!! Because then all I worked so hard to accomplish is all wasted away and fall backwards in so many ways.  Now I have to worked even harder to get back to where I was!!  The "pain" of Keep Going is the "pain" of discipline.  The Pain of doing something, even though I don't "feel like it" in that moment. The "pain" of keep going is to make some sacrifices for things I might have to give up for a short time or the time it takes to work towards my goal.  

3. Act As If...Right now I feel fat and weak and self-defeated...because of #2 above...the quitting part.  The past year I have acted as if I was lazy and procrastinated.  I acted as if I didn't have any motivation or drive to BE healthy or strong and fit. My mindset has shifted to a "I give up" attitude and self-limiting belief that I can't "keep going".  I've been acting as if I don't believe in myself and that I don't believe that I can Keep Going and that I'll just Quit yet again.   I NEED to change that belief and way of thinking.  I need to Act As If I CAN do this and that I won't  fall backwards yet again.  I have to Act As If I am Strong and Act As If this is truly a lifestyle and not just something I do for a few months and then give up.  Act As If I am a winner in my own life and a winner at achieving my goals.  

"Discipline is Built by Creating Habits we Repeat"

Day 1: 01/01/24 "before" pic: