When Change is Slow

Well, friends, we’ve not only made it to spring, but summer is just days away. Though the winter seemed like it would never end (at least here in the Northeast), it has. Flowers are blooming and trees are finally green.

Yet, as some of you have probably also noticed, this means it’s shorts weather. Soon, it will be bathing suite weather. And if you are like me, you’re not quite ready to shed all of the layers of clothing winter required. Long sweaters and jeans can hid a multitude of sins.

But here we are, in June.

As excited as I have been about the arrival of warm weather this year, I caught myself feeling kinda depressed recently. In January, I shared that I was revamping my exercise routine and seeking to make a change (aka hoping to better fit into my jeans). Tony and I cut out some of the not so healthy foods in our diet, and started a new online exercise program. And, barring sickness or travel, we’ve both been pretty consistent. Only, sadly, just one of us is dropping a pant size—and it’s not me.

In full disclosure, Tony is doing a more advanced routine than I am, as I found early on consistent high impact workouts were not sustainable for me. Rather, I chose the part of the program that enabled me to exercise almost daily without too much strain on some old injuries. The idea was to create a rhythm where movement was a part of my regular routine—and it worked. Only it’s not giving me the results I was hoping for. Sure, I have built strength, but my jeans don’t feel that different.

So one day, after going for a great run on a beautiful morning, I found myself critiquing my body. Saying to myself, that I’m just not where I want to be. I felt down about the shorts I still don’t fit into and all the time I’ve put in. But before I beat myself up too much, I remembered:

Sustainable change takes time.

In the past, I have done high intensity workouts over a short amount of time with good results. Only, I found those programs weren’t sustainable in my everyday life. As soon as the challenge was over, I quickly went back to my old ways. This time I didn’t just want to change my pant size, I also wanted to change my lifestyle. But by doing less challenging workouts, I was taking the long way to changing my body.

That morning, after my run, I felt like a failure. But then I had to remind myself that just because I hadn’t dropped a pant size, doesn’t mean I wasn’t succeeding. I had created a sustainable rhythm of exercise in my life and felt stronger and healthier because of it. It just meant slimming down in some of my trouble areas, is taking more time than I anticipated. And, that maybe I need to change things up. I’m still on the path and moving in the direction I ultimately want to be.

All of us want change in our life—whether it has to do with our jeans or not. But, I think we can all agree that we want more than a quick fix or the latest fad. What we really want is the lasting fix. What we really want is sustainable change.

Next January, I don’t want to be in the same place I was this past January. Or worse, I don’t want to be in a place where I’ve gone up a size rather than down. In fact, I’d rather be the same size I am now, but in really good physical shape than have lost the weight only to quickly gain it back.

I want longterm healthiness.

For years we’ve been bombarded with messages from companies promising us a quick fix to our weight loss and health goals. But as many “success” stories as they try to feed us, do we even know anyone they’ve actually worked for? I have a feeling the answer is no.

Quick fixes never produce lasting change. They just don’t. Instead, they mess us up by making us believe we are failing if we’re taking steps toward healthy change, and we’re not getting fast results. They tempt us to give up. To try the easy way, or not even bother. But their way isn’t what we really want. We have to remind ourselves: what we really want takes time.

Total honesty, I am not looking forward to putting on a bathing suit this summer. But I already know that I am going to be stronger and ready for all of the long hikes and runs, I want to take. This journey is slower than I want, but I know it’s worth it.