We talked about Blitzers in yesterday’s post — those folks who are happiest when they are doing over-the-top diet and exercise plans.  The rest of you probably think they are nuts.  You are not Blitzers, but  Baby-steppers.

Baby-Steppers do not like change.  They would rather keep on doing what they have been doing.  They just want different results.  Unfortunately, that is the definition of insanity — doing the same thing and expecting different results.  It does not work.

When a Baby-Stepper decides to make a change, she wants it to be a small one.  Nothing too crazy or extreme.  In fact, as little different from normal as possible.

There are some advantages to being a Baby-Stepper.  Multiple studies have shown that people who make small, consistent changes see the most long-lasting results.  Baby-Steppers don’t burn out quickly and tend to stay the course, once they set their minds to it.  They get there slowly, but they arrive and tend to have staying power.

There are some built-in problems with this personality type, though.  It’s true that small changes will make a difference in the long-term, but a Baby-Stepper may not want to make changes radical enough to affect her metabolism. If you do the math, you will see that simply cutting 100 calories a day or burning an extra 100 calories a day, should result in a 10 lb. weight loss over a year. (With the equation that you must burn about 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat.)  Lots of Baby-Steppers would be fine with that. However, the reality is that there is much more going on than calories in/calories out.  If you cut 100 calories but still eat high glycemic foods and don’t exercise, you will have the same metabolic issues and wrong hormonal messages going on.  Click here to read about hunger/satiety hormones.   Also, because there aren’t immediate results, it’s a temptation to think it’s wasted effort and just quit.

So how can a Baby-Stepper succeed at losing weight?  You want to do painless as possible, so do SEVERAL small things.  You can add other baby steps each week.  For instance, this week you can cut down on your calories by 100 or so and take a walk after dinner instead of sitting down to watch television.  Next week you can cut out (or cut down) on your diet drinks and drink water instead.  The next week you can keep up those changes, keep cutting down on the calories, and add another baby step or two.  This way you can work yourself into a healthier lifestyle.

The step exercise program is perfect for Baby-Steppers.  You can wear your pedometer and add 200  steps to your daily average each week. That’s painless (but not nearly dramatic enough for Blitzers) and doable. Click here to learn about an exercise plan you can actually do from now on.

You won’t see a huge, immediate weight loss with the baby step plan, but if it fits who you are, and you actually DO it, you will be successful.  That’s what matters.  Anyway, what’s the rush?  You want to be healthy the rest of your life.  It doesn’t matter how slow your steps if they are taking you in the right direction!

Eating to live and living for Christ,
Susan Jordan Brown