Stop the Insanity!!

Before each time I blog, I spend a little time catching up on other people's weight loss blogs, and each time I come back feeling fired up in some fashion.  Today, I feel irritated at this society for making weight loss so complicated!  Honestly, there are so many fads/trends and conflicting ideas about the best way to acheive health and lose weight, it makes a person's head spin.  I have been watching a lot of my fellow bloggers scrutinizing over calories and percentages and elimination diets.  Is it just me, or is this the reason a lot of overweight people don't even bother?  Not that that makes it right, but the confusion makes it feel really overwhelming.  The truth is, no matter what kind of weight loss plan you check into, be it Primal or Paleo or Weight Watchers, Atkins, Medifast...you name it, you will undoubtedly find people who have had success and will passionately share their story and try to convert anyone who will listen.  I think it's human nature.  But it is sad that people will follow others so blindly, expecting the same results, completely ignoring their body and it's unique needs. 
I admit that I like structure, someone I trust to tell me what I should do and why.  It has worked for me in the past, far better than trying to figure things out on my own, and I find that I hold myself much more accountable when I have a plan laid out for me.  But, with that in mind, you've got to modify to what works for you, in your life and with your body.  Remember Susan Powter from back in the day?  Her Stop the Insanity and her bubbly personality drove some people nuts!  But I loved her.  It was the first time anyone told me that I didn't have to be perfect in following their plan.  Just move, she would say, it doesn't matter if you can't keep up, just march in place.  Modify.  She was always talking about modification.  She gave us the information, then left it for us to mold it to fit into our lives. 

Can't curl that dumbell more than 5 times?  Well just do five, and next time I'll bet you'll be able to do six.  I love her for giving me that gift.  I wish more programs would talk about modification.  For that reason, Stop the Insanity was probably the one weight loss book that had the first and deepest impact on me, because it wasn't an all-or-nothing message, and I felt that I could work my way up to the "all" part. 
I was reminded of that today as I did my Jamie Eason's Live Fit Trainer leg training today.  I already modify the workouts because it is designed for the gym, and I do it from home.  Today's modification came in the form of not having equipment to do leg presses, so I skipped them, doing lying hamstring curls instead of seated ones, and not training my calves (because, have you seen my calves?  My husband is constantly jealous of them!).  I thought of Susan, felt like a bit of a rebel, and knew that the reason I was going to stick with it is because a long time ago Susan Powter told me it's OK to not be perfect, as long as I just keep moving.
No matter what plan you follow, that is the best advice any one of us can take along for the journey!
Happy Wednesday friends!  Hope you are having a successful week!