Ed, a friend of mine, is in the software business. He sells nutrition software. Neat product… great person!

I was in our usual hangout a few weeks back and overheard him mentioning something about a “BMI Index” to a fellow coffee sipper. I then engaged in the conversation only to learn that the BMI (Body Mass Index) is a standard tool used to determine if a person is normal weight for their height, overweight, or obese.

So, knowing I was what I thought about 10 maybe 20 pounds overweight, I got on my computer with Ed by my side, found a BMI Calculator on-line and measured myself. To my astonishment I learned that I was in the OBESE category. Me… Andrew… Obese! No way! Impossible. I knew I was overweight, but Obese?

Well, if you have any idea what this did to my psyche, I just couldn’t believe it. I had gained some weight a few years back after being relatively thin my whole life, and recently lost about 15+ pounds and feeling pretty good. I mean, I knew I had more to go… but Obese? I mean come on! That means I am still 35+ lbs away from normal status. Good grief!

So now for the past few weeks I have started to haunt myself with thoughts of fat. Fat arteries. Fat cholesterol. Fat stomach. And the ever popular…“Does this make my butt look big?”

Well, now I’ve had it. And I am about to take action. But before I do, I want to affirm my commitment. In order to achieve any worthwhile goal, you must make a commitment to yourself, and make an action plan for its achievement. I have done both. And telling you about it is not the important part. But it certainly will make me appear to be less of a person if I don’t achieve my goal. No pun intended – I am putting my ass on the line.

What does it take to make a commitment, and then follow through with actions that allow the goal to be achieved? Well, I don’t know that there is an actual formula, but let me share with you what has worked for me. Making the commitment is part one. Living up to it is part two through twelve point five.

Here are the 12.5 steps to getting past commitment to achievement:

1. Today, not tomorrow. Tomorrow never comes, especially where change or breaking a habit is concerned.
2. Develop a passion or an anger about your present situation. The only way to make the goal a reality is to get determined and create the inner energy.
3. Do it for the most important person in the world…YOU! Don’t do this for or against anyone but yourself.
4. Write down your exact plan. Detail both the actions you must take, and the rewards for achievement.
5. Set a time frame. The end is as important as the beginning.
6. Determine the daily dose. Just figure out what you need to achieve each day, and do that.
7. Look for substitutes (placebos or pacifiers). If you have to quit something, get a diversion to take your mind off of temptation.
8. Don’t quit just because you slip. If you fall off the (achievement) wagon, get back on.
9. Post your goals and achievements. Post-it note your goals on your bathroom mirror. After you achieve them, take them down and post them on your bedroom mirror. Look at your success every day.
10. It’s a day-by-day process. And if you do your daily bit-of-achievement, the passing weeks will bring you the prize.
11. Change other habits, so that one is not overpowering the other. Goals require change. Take the opportunity to make a few more.
12. Celebrate your victory. Ring bells, drink champagne from the winners cup, PARTY!
12.5 Grim reality is having a crisis occur that forces the commitment to be made. This can be anywhere from bombing the World Trade Center, to having a massive heart attack. Where crisis is not the best place to have commitment occur, it is certainly the best place to show how to take immediate action.

My personal goal is to be a svelte 189 lbs. I seek to achieve it within six months. All I need to do is lose a few ounces a day. I can do that. But ah, could you pass the bread, I’m starting tomorrow.

What are you looking to achieve? How angry or passionate are you about its achievement? How many times have you told yourself, “I can quit whenever I want to, I just don’t want to.” How many times are you justifying your lack of starting, with some excuse like: kids in school, kids not in school, before the holiday, after the holiday, after I graduate, before I start work. Who is kidding who?

Commitment is something to relearn every so often. And I have committed myself to student status, until I have achieved my goal of pants I can fit in to.

Happy healthy prosperous new year to all. Resolve to commit and achieve. I’ll be here to cheer you on.

Thank you Ed for being a good friend and an unintentional catalyst!