Baseball-Inspired Weight Loss Fundamentals

I like sports. I like to watch and I like to play, although I don't get the opportunities to play as much as I used to. But of all the sports I like, I love baseball. And I love my hometown Texas Rangers. As you can probably imagine, I'm ecstatic right now as my Rangers have advanced into the playoffs and are attempting to eliminate the hated New York Yankees. They're playing with focus, passion, and - maybe most importantly - they're having fun!

In the meantime, your friendly neighborhood blogger is having trouble playing the game of weight loss with that same level of focus, passion, and fun. I've had a busier than normal weekend. That, plus various changes to my routine at work and home, have left me floundering a bit.

I know that baseball players get on hot and cold streaks sometimes. That's kind of where I am. I get on a hot streak and lose a few pounds, then turn cold and gain a few back. So whatever excuses I can find have given me a three pound gain this week.

Most baseball players will tell you the key to staying hot and doing well is the fundamentals. Getting into a routine, where you don't even have to think about what you'll do when the ball comes to you. Or how you'll hit a certain pitch. Or what pitch you'll throw in which situation.

I think I need to find that routine. Get into a rhythm. There are no excuses. This is my turn at bat. I have to be ready to swing away and win this game. I've got to work on those fundamentals.

1. Listen to my coach. My stomach knows when it is full and when it is hungry. My brain knows what foods to avoid and what foods are good for me. So when I step up to the plate (plate...get it?), I can be prepared to slow down and take my time. I have to feast on the pitches in my strike zone (fruits, vegetables, lean proteins), and lay off those pitches in the dirt that look so tantalizing. I'm very excited about a phone consultation with a nutrition specialist I'm having next week. Her knowledge and experience can also be a source of coaching to me.

2. Play solid defense. An offense is only as good as its defense. A good fielder knows what he'll do when the ball comes to him in every situation. When someone hits a line drive my way by bringing birthday cake or doughnuts to work, I have to already be prepared on what I'm going to do. This can be tricky, by the way, as you're also playing the social game. Do I take a small piece of cake so I don't hurt their feelings, or do I just say no altogether? Every situation is different, and I have to be prepared.

3. Finish the game. As we've often seen (see Game 1 of the Yankees/Rangers ALCS series), the game is never truly over until the last out. So often we'll be cruising along having a great healthy eating day, and then a late night sneak attack craving will totally crush you while you weren't ready. Or we can screw up by eating an awful breakfast and count the day as lost early on, thereby eating everything in sight for the rest of the day. After all, I'll start another game tomorrow.

As you can probably tell, baseball has been on my mind lately. As a lifelong Texas Rangers fan, this has been a long time coming. But the World Series will soon be played, and baseball season will be over. But healthy living season will continue on. I think if I can follow the fundamentals I've laid out, I can find success in this game:

• Listen to my coach and remember what my brain and stomach are telling me
• Play solid defense by being prepared and planning ahead for healthy eating
• Finishing the game by not giving up and eating healthy all day long
  Does anyone out there want to commit to these fundamentals with me?
  
  More on Tipping the Scales:
  Bites, Licks and Tastes
  Starting Over on My Halloween Weight Loss Challenge
  Running and Random Acts of Kindness
  
  After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That's Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move toward a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes and challenges as they tip the scale.