Baby steps. . .
Have you ever noticed how cute a baby’s feet are? They are adorable. At least I think so.
A baby’s foot can remind us of some important lessons in life. For example, they can remind us that we need to take “baby steps.”
In this post, I will be listing some of the baby steps we need to take as we contemplate weight loss and how to best approach it for life long results.
Baby Steps… Don’t rush things
A lot of times we want to rush toward things, like weight loss. We think we should be able to lose the big pounds fast and furiously without any plan. While you can lose weight fast and keep it off, unless you have a plan, it is a lot of extra work to keep those pounds off. A lot of “traps” can pop up that could cause you to fail.
By taking baby steps, you are working more slowly toward a goal. You are learning to crawl first, then walk, then run.
Learning how to crawl
When we are born we start out helpless. We can’t feed ourselves, change ourselves or get from place to place without other people taking care of those things for us.
The first baby step we have to accept in weight loss is learning to crawl. We need to take that first crawl by deciding if we are truly committed to losing weight.
It is one thing to say we are committed and spend a bunch of money on gym memberships and exercise equipment, and a whole other thing to actually use them.
Making the commitment may be a simple thing like signing an agreement or contract with yourself stating your intention. If making the commitment to yourself does not seem like it would be a strong enough commitment, then sign the contract with another trusted friend who will hold you accountable and maybe even work on losing weight with you.
Taking those first steps
After you have made a commitment with yourself (or with yourself and at least one other person), you are going to want to want to decide on whatever it is you are planning to do.
For example, my mom and I have decided that we want to lose weight to help lower our daily blood sugar numbers. My mom isn’t able to workout like I can, but she is planning to take short walks throughout the day with her walker for up to 15 minutes a day for three days per week.
My plan is to start a walk at home walking program 5 days a week for 15 minutes each time and slowly work up to the full walk time of 45 minutes 5-7 days per week.
Breaking down that goal further, I will decide how many weeks I will walk the 15 minutes before I “step” that up that to 30 minutes 5 days per week and then up to the 45 minutes for 5-7 days per week. Just jumping right into walking the 45 minutes for 7 days per week to start is a recipe for disaster and failure. I know. Because I have done this time and time and time again.
Albert Einstein was famously quoted, “The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.”
Well, I was doing the same things over and over and expecting different results. But what I was ending up with was the same result over and over. I need a change and I definitely need a different result.
The second part of taking those first baby steps is to set a start date and stick with it. It doesn’t have to be a certain day or date—you don’t have to wait until a Monday or the first of the month—start tomorrow. For that matter, start today.
The best part about walking is that it’s free to do. You don’t need a gym or special equipment. Walk around your living room!
Another great thing about walking is that it really doesn’t have to “feel” like exercise since many of us have to walk to a certain degree anyway. Just turn that walk out to the car into a 15 minute walk.
Taking Baby Steps part 2
Starting an exercise program is only a small part of the big picture. Healthy eating is key! We will look at ways to change our eating in the next article so stay tuned!
Tying it all together
Take those baby steps and learn how to put one thing after another in a successful manner. Then, even if you do move along quickly, you will have the basics down and will have a better chance to succeed.
Thank you for visiting my site. I would love to hear your thoughts on this post. Please leave questions or comments below and I will get back to you very soon!
About the author
Karin Nauber, is a professional journalist who has worked in the newspaper business for the past 27 years. She is also a grandmother who, along with her spouse, is raising one of their granddaughters. Karin has five grandchildren with whom she enjoys spending as much time as possible. Karin also was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 11 years ago and has faced many challenges with the disease. If you would like to contact her, please do so at: karin@diabeteshealthnuts.com.
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Great post and good info.
For some people the example you take for baby steps and weight loss will sound ridiculous. For me it doesn’t. The reason is simple: you need to take step by step into it and not rushing things, it can be bad for your body and it could be a very big nightmare.
I had a friend once who suffered heavy problems because of that so I have knowledge about it.
It is good you write about it, hopefully people will realize it.
Thanks for sharing it!
Thanks for visiting my site, Emmanuel!
Those of us in the “know” realize that taking baby steps is vital to our success. But many “lose weight quick” programs fail because they are not sustainable. What we will be exploring on my site is a sustainable way to lose weight and keep it off for life!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Hey there,
that’s an awesome website! As aperson who loves working out, I run into one issue which I’m trying to find solution to. I do workout almost daily and I see pretty good results. I definitely see and feel my muscle grow, however I also have some decent amount of body fat especially in the belly area. I tried to battle this problem by doing more of the cardio, howeverr I end up burning a lot of muscle mass (especially on the hands) right alongside with body fat. Is there any way to target more specifically the belly area and burn fat, without burning much of the msucle mass?
Thanks for visiting my site Evald! You have a great question, but cardio should not be burning your muscle mass. You could mix the cardio with weight lifting by doing them every other day. I have used P90X routines and had very good results in the past. That program uses the theory of muscle confusion so that your muscles and body don’t get used to one thing, you are mixing it up every day. For example, one day you would do mostly cardio, then the next you would work on your upper body through pushups, pull-ups, etc. Another day you would do Yoga (which I don’t like) and then another day a routine called Kenpo X (which I loved!) It was a good way to get a full body workout. I did this program 2x and had really great results. The problem for me was that when I quit doing it, I didn’t change my eating and I gained weight back.
There is an answer out there for us, I am sure of it, but we have to actively seek it to find it.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
that was a wonderful article! I cannot agree more, we live in a world where everything must be quick, we’re used to get thing done as soon as possible and we don’t realize that not everything works that way. Weight loss is a process, consistency and commitment is key in order to achieve our goals and the longer the dealine of our diet plan the better for us. Thank you, it was a very good information. I’m sure that many people will be benefit from it. I cannot wait to read your next article!
Thanks for visiting my site, Fredery! Yes, our world of getting everything quickly is part of what has created our weight problems, too! Fast food is certainly one of the culprits.
Weight loss is definitely a process and I will be exploring that in coming months through my site!
Check back soon for my next post.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Thanks a lot for this very helpful topic Karen. I know so many people who want to lose weight but have never succeed because of lack of patience and doing things too fast. I agree with you that we first must learn to crawl and than make some big steps.
Thanks for visiting my site, Daniel.
Taking those small steps—crawling and then baby steps—is important to reach the bigger steps. Too often we try to run before we can crawl and that is often what causes us to fail in that attempt. Persistence pays in weight loss, though, no matter if you are a diabetic or not.
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Another great article. I find myself looking at the big picture when it comes to my weight loss and goals. 9 years ago I quit smoking cold turkey and it really didnt bother me that much.
Now that I am diabetic and I know I have to lose weight it seems I cant make it happen. But now Im going to try something different. Because of you Im going to take baby steps. Im going to lose one pound at a time and not worry about losing 50.
Thank you once again. This article really motivated me with my weight loss.
Dale
Thanks for reading this article, too, Dale! I think we are very similar in our struggle. I quite smoking about 11 years ago. I used a prescription Chantix to help me quit. Still, it all came down to my desire to quit. I did enjoy the truly weird dreams that the Chantix gave me though!
I will be going more into setting small goals for weight loss in coming articles, so please check back often!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Yes, Exercise can help to improve your blood sugar control.
To exercise safely, you have to track your blood sugar before, during and after physical activity.
Exercise makes it more easier to control your diabetes.
Your muscles can use glucose without insulin when you’re exercising, so exercise can reduce the glucose in your blood.
Thanks for visiting my site, Karim. Yes, I truly believe exercise is a key thing in getting diabetes under control. that, coupled with a proper diet can make diabetes better, in my opinion and in that of many others. Now it’s just a matter of getting it done!
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
Hello Karin. Thank you for sharing this article. The title of this article “Taking baby steps in weight loss” is so captivating.
In order to achieve the goal of weight loss, it is necessary to start somewhere and not rush things as life is in stages. You’ve done a great job here. But I think in some cases, doing the same thing over and over again can help improve on that thing. Right?
Thanks for visiting my site, Barry! You are right, in some cases doing the same thing over and over again can help improve things. There is no doubt about that. I think just a small change can make the difference here, though. I’ve been trying the same thing for years and it hasn’t worked. But I guess that doesn’t mean that it never will work, right?
Best wishes,
Karin 🙂
What a very nice article. I have always been one for jumping in head first instead of feet first with almost anything I do. And most times I give up almost as quickly as I start. This is definitely true when it comes to trying to loss weight. I am one of those people that feels like I should see results after the very first time I go for a bike ride, a long walk, or after the first time I lift weights. Mt weight gain is mostly in my belly. the rest of my body looks like I’m not over weight. It really effects my self esteem though. The largest problem I have with losing the weight in my stomach is I my eating habits. I don’t over eat for the most part. But I eat at times when I shouldn’t be eating. This is at night before I go to bed or when I wake up in the middle of the night.
I totally hear where you are coming from, Jason. That is me to a “T”. I jump in head first and worry about drowning later!
Most of my weight is in my abdomen area and it is very hard to lose and keep off, but I am determined and I believe that by taking baby steps, I can accomplish my goals as can others!
Yes, those late night snacks are not very good for us, are they. Why do they always seem to taste the best, through?!
I hope you will keep watching my site. Perhaps I will have other articles of interest to you at some point.
With 2020 vision,
Karin 😁
You said it right. We have to take baby steps when trying to lose weight.
The truth is, it’s not easy. With so many unhealthy foods around us and our hectic lifestyles, losing weight and keeping it off is hard. I’ve read so many books and tried so many diets that I’ve already lost track. I’ve gotten good results, but it’s hard to stick with it. It requires lots of discipline.
As I’m writing this, I’m thinking of what I should eat for dinner. I’m tired of eating bland foods and working out (not a fan), but it is what is.
Thanks for sharing.
You got that right. It is not easy. Junk food permeates our lives! Discipline is difficult because if you want a healthy meal, you have to spend time cooking it rather than just popping it in the microwave! Plus, everyone has a diet book. It seems like every time you turn around, there is another book available. I think I am going to write one, too!
Best wishes and thanks for stopping by!
Karin 🙂