70-90%

So...I had an epiphany this weekend.  And it's weird because it was a new epiphany over OLD information.  Information I have heard hundreds of times.  Pinned time after time on my Pinterest boards.  Read article after article about.  NOT NEW INFORMATION.  In any shape, form or fashion. But for whatever reason...a lightbulb went off for me and it's changed things.  How, you ask?  Well...all the research says...and shows...that weight loss is as much as 70-90% DIET and only 10-30% exercise. And that it's almost impossible to burn off with exercise a bad diet.  I KNOW this.   But somehow, it just didn't sink in right.  I mean it sunk in.  And despite the fact that I don't love it, I am VERY fatithful at the gym.  Okay...reasonably faithful.   I DO make it in there at least 4 times a week.  It could be more and there are weeks where I make it in there six days a week.  But 4 times a week happens too.  When I'm there, I work hard.  I don't go to look pretty...to see or to be seen.  I go to sweat.  When I leave I am wet and sweaty and stink to high heaven.  I leave with jiggly jello legs and a feeling of accomplishment.  I work hard while I am there.  When I am there.  THIS is not my epiphany.  My epiphany settled more on the diet is 70-90% of the whole deal.  Again...not new at all to this concept.  THIS hung on my refrigerator for weeks...

It says...."Abs are made in the KITCHEN...not the gym."

I had all these reminders.  All these pep talks for myself.  But somehow...it just didn't sink in.  Not to the level it needed to.  Or the WAY it needed to.  I was processing that I needed to eat right 70-90% of the time.  And I do.  But that seems like a lofty goal.  But here is how I suddenly came to see it.  If I am NOT eating right....even if I AM going to the gym and working out and working out HARD...if I am dropping the ball on the eating...then I am SCREWING UP 70-90% of the package.  I'm failing 70-90% of the time.  I'm done for before I even start.  WOW!  I hate to fail.  I hate to come up short.  I'm competitive....to a point.  But mostly with myself.  I would most likely back down in a competition with you.  But this realization BUGGED me.  That I'm screwing up and NOT doing it right.  And 70-90% of the time???!!!!  Yikes!  That's almost always!!!!  It's that realization that has been my motivator...at this moment in time anyway.  That...and I've watched a couple of weight loss stories unfold over the past year and having the whole power of good food choices displayed tenfold!!!!  I watched a woman SO much bigger than me...sadly huge really and very unhealthy change her habits and just this past weekend she bought jeans two sizes smaller than my current ones.  WOW.  And she is not a huge workout person. I mean...she joined a gym and she goes and works out...she runs...but not like I do.  She's a busy single mom with a whole gaggle of 5 kids.  But I realized that she is doing it 70-90% RIGHT....whereas I have dropped the ball.    And so...the epiphany dawns.  And I am focused on doing it 70-90% RIGHT.  To making the choices that will HELP me and not stall, backtrack and frustrate me.  I get it now.  Like...for real!  It's eyes wide open time!  Wish me luck!