Barriers to Change

Seeing as I have yet to reach my 4-a-week mark (which is, of course, my own version of the equally unattainable 5-a-day), I've decided that this is an apt time in which to discuss barriers to change. There are many.

The barriers I've identified for myself mostly end in -ation. While time and energy are perennial issues, I find myself most prone to a lack of motivation, prioritization, and routinization. The latter two are real words, apparently; I had to use them, despite the fact that they're both unattractive and cumbersome.

Motivation eludes me often, especially on days that are rainy, cloudy, or feature reruns of Law and Order: SVU. While I want to fit into the sparkling, slim-fitting gowns that Taylor Swift so delicately wears, it doesn't seem very realistic. In the past, my steps towards healthy eating and physical activity haven't necessarily been driven by an interest in sound health; rather, they have been driven by an interest in "not being fat" and "fitting into my prom dress." Perhaps this is why my efforts haven't been particularly sustainable. Once I made it past prom, or graduation, or simply got sick of chocolate chip cookie deprivation (never a good thing), I relapsed into my old ways. In order to sustain my motivation, I need to approach healthy eating and physical activity from a perspective that now appears obvious: the pursuit of health.

As a result of fleeting motivation, I haven't made healthy eating and physical activity priorities. Until recently, they fell somewhere between "wash car" and"reorganize closet," which weren't terribly high on my list to begin with. Until running (or something) regains a rightful and permanent place in my top ten list, maintenance of change remains nearly impossible.

Because my efforts in behavior change haven't been a priority, it's difficult to make them routine. I recently discussed this concept with my friend Sameer, whose physical fitness I find incredible. Aside from his enviable physique, his sheer determination and strikingly positive attitude are both admirable and inspirational. While I don't plan to incorporate whey protein into my diet or bench 225 pounds (because I could, obviously), I hope to develop a stronger sense of resolve and self-efficacy. Sameer mentioned that physical fitness as a routine has often kept him going; if I develop a routine of physical activity, it will likely be hard to break.

As Thoreau so poignantly said, "things do not change; people change." These -ations seem like an ideal place to start. In the meantime, you can find me stumbling from exhaustion outside, sporting my new water bottle: