Day 6 – Finances and Weight
09/14/2009I have spent the past 3 years learning how to live within a budget. I never took the time to learn about money. I avoided the subject at all cost. I just unconsciously paid bills and then charged everything for the rest of the month. I took on more and more side jobs in order to account for the short fall but I never really could make ends meet. I never cut back my spending or set a limit. I just worked harder. After 15 years of wayward spending I was in over my head to a tune of $45,000. This is a perfect example of living with no boundary. When I could not work any more hours in a day and my credit cards were at their limit I made the struggle public and set a budget. I became a student of a friend who had made smart financial decisions. I made graphs and posted them all over my house and classroom. I read books and listened on the radio to financial experts such as Dave Ramsey. I became the cash queen and my mantra was “Credit Cards are Bad!” I lived within a budget and paid cash for everything. Every dollar had a purpose and destination. Believe it or not I had freedom within that boundary. I had “if then choices.” I worked it so I could choose where the money would go and shuffled as needed. I was determined and unrelenting. To this date I have paid off 90% of this debt.
I bet you know where this is going .
Isn’t it interesting that my financial history is very similar to my weight story? It’s amazing to see the similarities. My family knew that my weight gained was not a topic up for discussion. It wasn’t fair to them because they were coming from a place of love. But I would become very hurt when the topic arose. When I spoke with friends about my weight I approached the subject as if I was a victim, “Oh whoa is me.” I felt defeated because I believed that this was an area in my life that I would never achieve significant success in. I tried to white knuckle it many times but I would always defeat myself once again. I would reach that certain milestone and then turn around and eat more and more. I’d learn about healthy eating but I would never take any ownership in what was going on, so the pounds just piled on and on and on.
Financial and Weight Gain Similarities
1. Topic off the table
2. Continue as if nothing was happening
3. Play the “Whoa is me,” card
I made the connection today when I was talking to a friend about my success this week. I was reviewing with her my calorie options and if I budget correctly I could have certain foods according to my calorie allotment for the day. She had witnessed my financial journey and said, “If you can be on a cash budget you can surely budget calories. Lets see can you say “LIGHTBULB MOMENT?”
Shelli Belly 
Wow! If you can beat the financial debt, you can certainly beat the excess weight. I know you’ll be stong on this. But, when you stumble, forgive yourself, learn from your failures (really, that’s what they are, why sugarcoat it?), and move forward. Don’t give up on yourself–we won’t give up on you!
That is what this is all about, the SUPPORT! It is so wonderful! Yep stumble for a moment and pick yourself up. Calorie to Calorie — Meal to Meal — Day to Day — Month to Month — We’ll be that much stronger.
That is so great, to make that connection! I’ll bet you can really relate to Sean Anderson’s approach…he thinks of it as his daily budget from his calorie bank. And he can’t make a draw against the next day, but must spend his calories in that day only, and not write hot checks.
I don’t know if you have had the time, but I have been reading his back posts, and they are rich with hard won wisdom! In a year from now, someone new will come along and find your writings, and be saying that about YOUR blog, too. 🙂
Loretta
Hi Loretta,
Yes Sean is amazing. I’ll have to go check oout more of his earlier postings. We’re definately on the same page.
Smiles to you,
Shelli
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