Goals for 2008-The Dave Way

As most of you know, I love Dave Ramsey and the advice he gives on finances. I was looking around his website today and wanted to share his printable baby steps page.

Click here to view.

In a nutshell, these are tiny goals that help people get on the road to financial freedom. It's also really interesting to listen to his radio show that airs on 710am from 11-2 weekdays. On the show, people call in with their financial questions and Dave gives his "if I were in your shoes" answer. One of the most interesting concepts I've taken away from the show is you don't have to be in the upper tax bracket to be financially free. The other day a caller told Dave her household income was over $250K but she was virtually broke. She had 3 car payments, a huge mortgage and credit card debt. And then it clicked...ah-ha! It's not about how much a person makes but how they decide to spend what the money. She has a great income, but no more financially healthy than someone making $40K a year.

My link to health from this financial gibberish (my soapbox) is all about the choices we make. In the book, "Mindless Eating" Dr. Brian Wansink talks about the psychology of eating and how we make over 100 choices/day (or more) about food. Think about it, you decide what you will eat, when you will eat, do or don't you skip the mini-snickers on the receptionists desk. We either choose to eat more than our bodies can burn off or we eat less and workout (the key ingredients to losing weight).

In conclusion (to my array of thoughts), if your 2008 goal is losing weight; make the CHOICE to stick with it. I'm not going to lie, if you want results: eating, breathing and sleeping the goal AND always acting on it for several, several months is the path that lies ahead. My hope is that this statement will help you realize there's no magic pill or no mystical infomercial machine that's going to easily get you where you want to be.

Anyone I've worked with that was successful in losing weight diligently works for their goal. Last year after gaining 50 pounds by carrying my beautiful son Jax, I literally ate, slept, dreamt, and breathed my goal until I made it. I found what motivated me (fitting into my old clothes) and used it to empower me so my days were filled with healthy eating and working my booty off. Get this-I didn't buy a single piece of clothing until I could fit into my old stuff. I didn't reward myself until I made my goal. I wore basically the same thing for 3 months day after day. Seem extreme? Probably but I had to trick myself into success because I didn't want to buy the bigger size, because I didn't want to be the bigger size. Figure yourself out.

Please contact me if you have questions or want ideas on how to trick yourself.