One of the things that amazed me the most when I first
started my weight loss journey for 'good' (when I finally got committed enough
to really DO IT), was the immense feeling of PRIDE I got when I had a few weeks
under my belt in terms of staying on my program.
It seemed the more I stayed on program, the prouder I got, as the pounds finally started to come off. And I found myself staying on program even through family events, holidays, birthdays, eating out, you name it. It got easier and easier to just say 'NO'. Matter of fact, since I'm generally around the same group of people -- family and friends -- they all started to get used to the fact that I would smile and shake my head, "No, thank you". And they started to just leave me alone because they could SEE the results for themselves. And not just physically....but in my entire countenance. The pride in myself just SHINED through!
There's a lot to be said for that!
I mean, isn't it funny how we can get so caught up in our day-to-day lives, just trying to keep all our respective balls in the air -- job, family, friends, you name it -- that we neglect OURSELVES in the process? And I don't mean in a big way, either. I mean, the little things. Like maybe taking an hour one night to announce "I'm going to take a bath...unless the house burns down, please let me be" (LOL) and closet yourself in my bathroom and sink into a hot bubble bath, maybe with a new scented body wash or bath product, maybe with a candle or two for ambience. AHHHHH......nothing like it.
It doesn't take much, sometimes, to 'spoil yourself'. Yet so many of us neglect to do that! We get all caught up in the 'have tos' of our lives, and forget about the 'want tos'.
Sometimes inertia sets in. We get used to spending time in front of the TV every night....but if we just took a few minutes, we could organize our meals and maybe our menu plan for the next couple of days, and be 'ready' when everything starts all over again the next morning and we're racing around trying to get everything done.
I remember this line from an old commercial (and I can't even remember the product, but I believe it was a hair coloring or something):
"THIS I DO....FOR ME!"
That should be your motto when trying to stay on your weight loss journey.
You're doing it for YOU. Not just for your health or the way your clothes fit or that 'magic number' on the scale, either....but for the PRIDE IN YOURSELF that YOU DID IT!
YOU conquered your demons and learned how to change your habits for the better.
And it's important to do the little things that can make that happen for ourselves.
And to TAKE that time for ourselves. And to KEEP doing it, and to make those little changes, those little habits that can lead to our taking care of ourselves and our bodies for once, and that leads to PRIDE! Which is a wonderful thing!
When I get up in the morning anymore, I SMILE, just remembering that I'm NOT obese anymore. That's a beautiful feeling. I know I can get dressed without gasping for breath. I know my clothes will fit. And that makes me so proud of myself I could BURST!
And there's nothing wrong with that! If YOU don't have pride in YOU, who will?
But it all starts with, again....the little things. Taking care of yourself. Doing what you know you need to do every single day. Eating right, logging your food, getting your exercise in (even if maybe you don't 'feel like it' LOL).
And sometimes we need to take time during the day to just sit and BE and BREATHE. That's all. We don't have to be running around every second of every day.
Remember, you are a human BEING, not a human 'doing'. LOL. Right?
So step outside that list of 'Things to Do' and take some time out for YOU. Time for you, in a good way....obviously not overeating but doing something soothing. Play a silly computer game. Read a good book. Take an exercise class. Sit with headphones on and listen to meditation CDs. Take a NAP or a bath if you can.
And change the FOCUS of your thoughts. Don't fixate on what you did 'wrong' last week or that off plan food you ate and now regret. Dwell, instead, on the GOOD changes you've made in your life. If you're eating small frequent meals, that's probably a big change in your eating habits. BRAVO! If you're staying on your program, if your calories and / or nutrients are where they should be, that's a GOOD thing.
PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK a little bit. Go ahead, why not?
Again, if you don't do it, who will?
We can't always expect others to 'notice' our efforts. But WE sure do! So be your OWN cheerleader. And be PROUD of the changes you are making....no matter how small, you are still moving in the right direction!
Keep on keepin' on!
It seemed the more I stayed on program, the prouder I got, as the pounds finally started to come off. And I found myself staying on program even through family events, holidays, birthdays, eating out, you name it. It got easier and easier to just say 'NO'. Matter of fact, since I'm generally around the same group of people -- family and friends -- they all started to get used to the fact that I would smile and shake my head, "No, thank you". And they started to just leave me alone because they could SEE the results for themselves. And not just physically....but in my entire countenance. The pride in myself just SHINED through!
There's a lot to be said for that!
I mean, isn't it funny how we can get so caught up in our day-to-day lives, just trying to keep all our respective balls in the air -- job, family, friends, you name it -- that we neglect OURSELVES in the process? And I don't mean in a big way, either. I mean, the little things. Like maybe taking an hour one night to announce "I'm going to take a bath...unless the house burns down, please let me be" (LOL) and closet yourself in my bathroom and sink into a hot bubble bath, maybe with a new scented body wash or bath product, maybe with a candle or two for ambience. AHHHHH......nothing like it.
It doesn't take much, sometimes, to 'spoil yourself'. Yet so many of us neglect to do that! We get all caught up in the 'have tos' of our lives, and forget about the 'want tos'.
Sometimes inertia sets in. We get used to spending time in front of the TV every night....but if we just took a few minutes, we could organize our meals and maybe our menu plan for the next couple of days, and be 'ready' when everything starts all over again the next morning and we're racing around trying to get everything done.
I remember this line from an old commercial (and I can't even remember the product, but I believe it was a hair coloring or something):
"THIS I DO....FOR ME!"
That should be your motto when trying to stay on your weight loss journey.
You're doing it for YOU. Not just for your health or the way your clothes fit or that 'magic number' on the scale, either....but for the PRIDE IN YOURSELF that YOU DID IT!
YOU conquered your demons and learned how to change your habits for the better.
And it's important to do the little things that can make that happen for ourselves.
And to TAKE that time for ourselves. And to KEEP doing it, and to make those little changes, those little habits that can lead to our taking care of ourselves and our bodies for once, and that leads to PRIDE! Which is a wonderful thing!
When I get up in the morning anymore, I SMILE, just remembering that I'm NOT obese anymore. That's a beautiful feeling. I know I can get dressed without gasping for breath. I know my clothes will fit. And that makes me so proud of myself I could BURST!
And there's nothing wrong with that! If YOU don't have pride in YOU, who will?
But it all starts with, again....the little things. Taking care of yourself. Doing what you know you need to do every single day. Eating right, logging your food, getting your exercise in (even if maybe you don't 'feel like it' LOL).
And sometimes we need to take time during the day to just sit and BE and BREATHE. That's all. We don't have to be running around every second of every day.
Remember, you are a human BEING, not a human 'doing'. LOL. Right?
So step outside that list of 'Things to Do' and take some time out for YOU. Time for you, in a good way....obviously not overeating but doing something soothing. Play a silly computer game. Read a good book. Take an exercise class. Sit with headphones on and listen to meditation CDs. Take a NAP or a bath if you can.
And change the FOCUS of your thoughts. Don't fixate on what you did 'wrong' last week or that off plan food you ate and now regret. Dwell, instead, on the GOOD changes you've made in your life. If you're eating small frequent meals, that's probably a big change in your eating habits. BRAVO! If you're staying on your program, if your calories and / or nutrients are where they should be, that's a GOOD thing.
PAT YOURSELF ON THE BACK a little bit. Go ahead, why not?
Again, if you don't do it, who will?
We can't always expect others to 'notice' our efforts. But WE sure do! So be your OWN cheerleader. And be PROUD of the changes you are making....no matter how small, you are still moving in the right direction!
Keep on keepin' on!
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