How to "Not Quit"

In my last post I wrote something like: If you don't quit, you'll get there. It's really true. But the problem is that sometimes we are so used to quitting, we kind of don't know how to not quit. At least that's been my experience. So I thought I would explore the how-to a little bit. Here are 6 practical things we can start doing right now to quit quitting:

1. Get defensive. Most of us have been working at this for a while now. We need to defend our efforts! First of all, know that there is going to be some resistance! Second, identify your opposition. What is it for you-- Stress? Holidays? Busy Schedule? Travel? Illness? In some cases you can come up with a strategy to deal with such deterrents, such as special planning for holiday meals or researching restaurants ahead of time for travelling. In other cases we just need to learn ways of coping besides eating--activity to combat stress, prayer to deal with illness, etc. The biggest thing is to acknowledge the elephant in the room (or that will soon be in the room) and quit letting it make you quit.

2. Stay as far away from quitting as you can. If you know that one day of not working out will lead to 2 and then 3 and then 365--then don't not work out. Just do it when you say you are going to. If eating out at McDonald's one day is going to lead to eating at Taco Bell the next day and then Pizza Hut the next and so on and so forth then just maybe...don't go to McDonald's. Don't let yourself believe the lie that "this time will be different than all the rest." Drive-thru rarely ends well. Steer clear of quitting.

3. Do not be yoked with another quitter. Okay, this may seem a little harsh, but if you know your workout buddy likes to skip the gym 5 out of the 6 days you are planning to work out, that's probably not a wise choice for a workout buddy. You will be better off on your own. It is too easy to let someone else determine your choices. Pick your partners cautiously. Go partner-less if necessary.

4. Stand up for yourself. There are people who like to sabotage you--"Oh come on! You have been doing so good. Let's go get lunch today! You can save your home-packed meal for Monday." Yeah...thoooooose people. Tell 'em to back off. Seriously. You can do that, you know. You don't have to be mean or rude. Just let them know that you're serious about what you are doing and that you'd appreciate it if they would respect your goals--by not even asking you to go along. Squish the sabotagers. It will work.

5. Get bouncy. Get used to the idea that you are going to be one bouncy fool. Pretend you are on the trampoline of healthy living and every time you get knocked down--BOOM--You're back. You bounce back. Redefine yourself--you can do that, too, you know. Become the new, bouncier you. Make bouncing back your new habit. Don't even think about it--Should I get back on track today or.... YES! Yes, you should! Right now, right now, right now. Bounce.

And finally...

6. Table-swipe it. Something I like to do a lot these days is take stuff off the table. For instance, the other day I told everyone to take perfect off the table. Hopefully some people did that. Today I'm telling everyone to take quitting off the table. Just take your whole arm (like they do in the movies) and swipe quitting off the table along with the carton of ice cream, chips and Coke you may possibly have sitting there. If quitting isn't an option then you can't very well do it, can you?

If you just don't quit,  you will get there. It's worth repeating. Over and over and over and over....