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View Full Version : Maintenance Weekly 28th August 2006 - Being Adaptable


Mitra
08-28-2006, 03:54 AM
Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt
(quote from the journal in Staying Power)

This quote applies equally well to either intervention or maintenance, but the thing about maintenance is that it goes on for a long, long time, so there are bound to be different challenges, and changes in your circumstances along the way. It might be something like the week away that I had last week, where your usual kind of food isn't available; or it might be an illness or injury that disrupts your usual exercise routine; or a work or family crisis that soaks up all the time and energy you need to shop, cook and exercise well.

I like the pragmatic approach of this quote - don't beat yourself up because you can't always achieve perfection, but don't just give up when things are difficult, either - do what you can.

My recent experience in applying this was dealing with the food choices on last week's yoga course. I can think of places where I could have made better choices, and the last couple of days as I've been getting back to normal, I'm aware of the effects of a week of carbs - I find myself thinking about carby foods in a way that hasn't happened to me since I first started :rolleyes: . I've baked some almond muffins to have on hand until it passes - though I think it's more or less gone now.

How do you adapt when life gets in the way of perfection?

cmcole
08-28-2006, 09:18 AM
As a perfectionist, life always gets in the way of perfection.

Obviously, we don't live in a perfect world, and things don't always go the way we want them to, so we have to adapt. It's how flexible you are that gets you through, I think.

No, that doesn't mean abandoning your meal plan at the drop of a hat (or donut), but it means stopping and thinking/evaluating intelligently. What is the best choice I can make, even if it may not be exactly what I would choose if I had full control?