Breaking Down the Excuses: My Realization and Self-reflection

I've been pretty good at creating a wall of excuses around myself for the past couple of years. Everything from my fertility to breastfeeding, to maintaining my milk supply, to the ever-assuring love and acceptance of my husband was conveniently put to use as an excuse to put off losing weight.

This realization didn't come as a thunderous epiphany; it was more of a slow, simmering frustration. Why did it seem so easy for others to reach their health and fitness goals? Why was I stuck in a loop of excuses and inaction? Comparison is often called the thief of joy, but in this case, it served as a wake-up call.

Without getting into specifics, I will tell you that this wake-up call pushed me into a phase of intense self-reflection. I had to confront the unpleasant fact that I had issues with procrastination and a lack of motivation, and was avoiding the long-term work required.

Overcoming these hurdles is no easy task. To tackle the procrastination issue, I'm trying to use a method known as "habit stacking." This involves incorporating a new habit immediately before or after an existing habit. For example, doing my workout right after my kid goes to bed, or flossing my teeth while her bath is filling up every night.

As for motivation, I’m trying to tap into intrinsic motivation, finding joy in the process itself rather than focusing solely on the results (which is a whole thing I've been having to write about at work, so I kind of sound like a motivational speaker or something right now).

Unexpected circumstances are a given. Just when I think I have an hour to squeeze in a workout, teething woes or a missed nap swoops in, and my plans go out the window. Instead of seeing this as an excuse, I’m trying to view it as a challenge to overcome.

Of course, stress tends to creep in, and the temptation to reach for comfort food or a glass of wine is high. I'm thinking of substituting these with healthier stress-relieving activities like stretching, meditation, or just some good old-fashioned self-care. I've been getting very into "mocktails" lately and might make a whole post on my decision to become "soberish." 

I'd be lying if I said I've made significant progress. But right now, I'm at the starting line, and I feel more motivated than ever to succeed. This time around, I’m not in a sprint, but a marathon. How many more cliches can I fit into this post?

The road ahead is long and full of uncertainties. How do you tackle procrastination? How do you keep your motivation high when the going gets tough? How do you handle unexpected interruptions to your routine? I’m all ears.