Measuring can equal success

Life can be measured out by small milestones. Bad ones and good ones. In order to keep motivated, it’s important to realize when you’ve failed, when you’ve succeeded and when you just make a realization that you can sabotage yourself and not even know it. Within the last month, I’ve realized the importance of measuring. I was overeating and not realizing it.

Most of us make a bowl of cereal or ice cream without measuring. Ok be honest, most of us don’t even get a bowl out when eating ice cream. About two months ago, I was going to eat a bowl of cereal but all of the bowls I like to use were dirty. Out of pure laziness, I grabbed a serving bowl. I started pouring the cereal and realized how big the bowl was. Did I really need a huge bowl of cereal? Nope. Did I want it? You betcha!

It got me thinking about how important measuring portions of food should be. I mean, there has to be a reason serving sizes exist, right? If not, we’d all look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow man – from Ghostbusters. So, I decided to measure out 1 cup of cereal and ½ a cup of milk. I couldn’t believe I was actually measuring cereal. The person who used to eat the cereal until she found the Garfield bike reflector at the middle of the box. Anyway, in the gigantic bowl, it looked like I had 2 bites. I looked back in the cabinet and found these small bowls that I bought at a yard sale for $0.05. At the time of purchase, I didn’t know what I would use them for but they were $0.05!!! I transferred the cereal over and had this heaping bowl of cereal. I literally said “That’s what I’m talking about” and started digging in. Yes, I talk to myself. Now, I eat a small bowl that is filled to the rim and it’s the perfect amount. I also eat on small plates that are jam packed. The picture is from Thanksgiving but that’s the size plates I use for everything. Call it what you want, but if eating on smaller sized plates or bowls is wrong, I don’t want to be right.

In boot camp, everybody loves the parachute runs. Am I right? Ehh. Personally, whenever I see those things, I want to do the old “Hey, what’s that over there” trick and somehow shoot them to the moon. I had someone tell me once “You’re pulling too hard. I don’t like being your partner” and it made me so mad, I pulled harder. She hasn’t been back to the class since; however, I seriously doubt I had anything to do with that. Usually when we use the dreaded bands, we measure the steps. 100 forward, 50 side shuffles on each side and 100 steps backward. While I dread every single step, I know that if I do them, I will get results. So I take off and usually I have to get my partner to count for me, but I get the job done. In fact, I pushed someone this week to continue even though we were getting the “You have 6 seconds to get back here!!” yell. My partner stopped and I said “Ignore her and finish the last 20 steps” and she did.

Now, I know this might be hard to believe, but parachute runs are very parallel to life. I know, I know. I promise I haven’t fallen off my rocker. Really think about it. If you take the time to measure things out, you will have some added pressure and it won’t be easy. Sometimes, you might even get frustrated and need a little help. However, if you give everything you have, you will eventually find success.

The virtue lies in the struggle, not in the prize - Richard Monckton Milnes