Over the past couple of years as people have watched me successfully release 134 pounds I have had many ask me for help. What's your secret? How have you been able to get the weight off and now keep it off for a year. As I think back and try to find ways to be truthful and encouraging at the same time I have found some things that I find will help you be more successful. FIRST you MUST make a decision! Decide that you are going to commit to this habit. If you wait for perfect conditions, you will never get anything done. Ecclesiastes 11:4 (LB) Life happens. There will always be a vacation, pot luck, dinner with friends, church social, wedding, birth, etc. to deal with. Just because you want to lose weight the whole world isn't going to stop. When you make the decision KNOW this and KNOW that you will have to plan for these happenings. You are in control of your eating and you can make good choices and plan for events. You can even EAT BEFORE you attend the event so that you are not hungry and therefore, eat less and can be more selective about what goes into your body. Give yourself permission to be successful without worrying about what others might think of you. Remember your opinion about you is the most important opinion. SECOND make a declaration. Announce your intentions and give your family or friends permission to check up on you. This allows you to be held accountable. You may need to let your family know that you don't need a food police but that you would like some words of encouragement and perhaps a kind word (code word) to remind you of your goals. Ex: Perhaps instead of your spouse saying "I thought you weren't going to eat that any more." They could use a code word that you agree upon prior such as "thoughtful". Then nothing else needs to be said it is just a reminder to us. I find many times, especially in the beginning, we eat unconsciously. I have put something in my mouth and started chewing and then realized, oh no I didn't want to eat this. I have even been known to spit it out. It seems strange to someone who hasn't struggled with obesity but it happens, especially in the beginning so a kind code word can help. I also have found a huge RED flag is when someone tells me they don't want anyone to know what they are doing because it means they are already telling themselves that they can't do it; why should I think it will work this time it hasn't before and I don't want everyone knowing I failed again. This type of thinking is self defeating and will keep you unsuccessful. That is why it is so important to make the declaration, get people that will love and support you and CHANGE the negative self talk. THIS IS WHAT WILL MAKE IT WORK THIS TIME!! THIRD make a determination. Don't allow any exceptions to knock you off track especially in the early stages. Be mindful and stay focused especially the first few months because once you have habits in place it is easier to stay focused. In the beginning if you are constantly breaking your plan you are sabotaging your plan and you are setting yourself up for failure. Plan the day before for where you will be the next day at mealtime and have everything thought out and written down before it even happens. It is so much easier to plan before you are hungry than in the heat of the moment! Having said all of this I want to tell you that if you eat something you weren't planning to eat...THIS IS HUGE...DO NOT WASTE A MINUTE beating yourself up for it. IT'S OVER...done...forget about it and move forward as if NOTHING happened. Get right back on track and eat according to your plan. The more you live in the past and beat yourself up the more YOU WILL STAY in the past. You do NOT want to be in the past you want to be in the PRESENT!! Living in the NOW and not in the PAST is what will make you successful. FOURTH double up!! GET a partner for support and encouragement!! This is the quickest way to succeed. Two are better off than one, because together they can work more effectively. If one of them falls down, the other can help him up. Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (GNB) Fifth depend on God. Rely on God's power to help you establish the habit of daily planning for success. For the Spirit God has given us...fills us with power, love, and self-control. 2 Timothy 1:7 (GNB) SIXTH FORGIVE yourself. Many of us are much quicker to forgive others than to forgive ourselves. When you forgive yourself and live in the present you will find it much easier to make good choices and not self soothe with food. YOU ARE SO WORTH IT!!
I would love to encourage you to comment with any ideas that someone else may find helpful or ask any questions that we can help each other be successful. Remember you are not alone in this journey.
God Bless,
Nena
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