Skinny Jeans..Love 'Em or Hate 'Em?

     So, I have been told that I should share my story as a means to motivate others....the story of my lifestyle change.  The story of how I kicked my own ass.
     One thing that I have learned after the last two books that I have read, is the human ego is the source of most of pain, selfishness, and frustration that we are held captive by each passing day.  Therefore, it must be made clear, if you set out on a weight loss journey with "looking good" as your only goal, congratulations....your ego is the one in control....and trust me, that will backfire and most likely any efforts are going to become unstable and potentially fall apart along the way.  When your ego takes a hold of your goals, it means you surrendered control to something other than your true self and consequently, the outcome as well.
      Looking into the eyes of my entrusted OB/GYN and hearing the words "You weigh more now than you did when you gave birth to Sarah....you need to lose weight", hit me like a dump truck...right in the muffin top.  I thought, "What a brat...how could she tell me that???  I don't think I look THAT bad".  This was all in the moment after her saying this to me...and then her next comment made me realize it was not my looks she was worried about.  She said, "You had Diabetes with BOTH pregnancies, and you seem to forget that that puts you at higher risk for Type 2 in just a few years."  I walked out of her office feeling about as big as an barn, but I started realizing that my selfishness /ego was in control of what I was eating and my lack of activity.  I am not one who likes others to control things in my life...therefore, I went home and.....that's right......ate a completely unhealthy snack.  (As a side note, if you have identified that you are an "emotional eater" or "stress eater", things won't change until you identify the source and deal with it constructively.)  It must not have been so worth it or amazing, because I can't remember what it was.  Funny how that works.  It wasn't until I took it upon myself to DECIDE and COMMIT to what had to be done, and that was...make a commitment to doing everything I can to ensure being present and LIVING life enjoying my family and their families for as long as God wills me to.  It had nothing to do with size this and that, or how great I looked in a picture, or what I looked like 10 years ago.  It had everything to do not wanting to miss out on the things that I said I wanted to see in life.  Those things weren't going to come happen right in front of me while I sat on the couch indulging in oversleeping and overeating under the guise of "relaxation".  NO WAY!  It meant...getting up, moving, changing the way I perceived food and banking on difficulties along the way...but not being afraid of them.
     My thought on why most diet and exercise programs end up failing is not because of the program, it's because the person failed it.  I mean, think about that!  IT'S AN INANIMATE SYSTEM!!!!  One that ONLY works with a series of actions to drive it!  What's the source of the action??.....US!  Listen....crap happens!  Life stinks at times!  But, allowing those things to define HOW you react is just plain dumb!  Allowing "life" to knock you "off your game" means you never decided to get in and play anyways!  True, committed lifestyle change will NOT happen until the person chooses that it is more important than the selfish need to add two more pounds of cheese or watch 500 billion more minutes of television.  I'm not saying all of those things are bad, but seriously, how much do you NEED?  Nothing worthwhile is easy....it's just that simple.  So expect challenges, bad days, and set backs...but don't give those things control and ability to dictate how you react to them.  
    Weight Watchers worked for me.  It may not work for everyone, but then again, neither does platinum blonde...that's why there is beauty in choices.  Bottom line, WW taught me balance, being selective, freedom, and payoff.  I began to eat moderately and view food as positive fuel, not a means to justify my "bad day" and self-indulgent motivations.    Motion/movement is paramount.  What started out as brisk walking became running.  Exercise meant doing whatever put my body in motion and liking it!!  There are some people who choose exercises because they think they are high payoffs for weight loss, yet the DREAD, HATE, AND LOATHE doing it.  My question is WHY!!??  To me, that is completely asinine...why not choose something you enjoy doing?!  It may take some work and effort to discover what it is, but it may mean that you are more apt to keep doing it regularly, instead of it being susceptible to the next thing that comes along that can blow up your program.  If it means that you lose 2 lbs. a week as opposed to 4 lbs, the payoff is that you keep doing it rather than gaining back those 4 lbs plus 10 times that when you try to justify giving up.
    Make it a priority.  If you use the excuse "I just don't have the time"....I feel for ya'.  Because seriously,  if you are in it for the right reasons...you'll make time.  Sacrifice the TV, Swiss Cake Rolls, and Dr. Peppers in order to gain healthy, productive years on your life.  Choose to give yourself to those that love you and want to spend their lives with you, and purposefully seek opportunities to validate their desire.  Otherwise, I feel it is saying "Yeah....this crappy sludge I'm eating and continuous couch potatoing thing I have going on is WAY, WAY more important than being here for any of you.  And the 5 minutes of selfish pleasure I am looking for in this wrapper, is far more crucial than our future together."  
    Have a visual goal.  Seriously.  I'm not talking a picture you cut out of a magazine of some super skinny super model that you cannot ever be...and do you REALLY want to????  Put your kids' pictures on the fridge, your spouse, your family, your pets....whatever works.  Then when you are making your choices, you will have first looked at them.  Then...go to the store.  Find a great pair of jeans, or a swim suit, a hot shirt...but get it in the size you aim to be.  Please, be realistic!  If you don't ever see yourself getting to a size 2...don't buy it!  Focus the goal on a size where you can be happy AND healthy!  The numbers on the inside of your pants don't make you who you really are! Find something you like, but DO NOT buy it because you think "This will make my eyes look great" or "My rear-end will be the main attraction in these!".  Because if you really look at that....those are needs motivated by a self-centered desire to attract attention to yourself.  Buy the skinny jeans...and say to yourself, "When I get to a healthy point where I can wear these...I will be able to run with my kids, swim with my dog, or just feel good body-wise on a consistent basis."  When you get home, hang the item up where you can look at it everyday.  EVERYDAY.  Let it serve as a compass needle for the choices you make that day.  When you get close to where you think you might be able to wear them...try them on.  If they still don't fit, you either choose to keep going and get into it, or choose that you are close enough...that's up to you!
    Ask for help.  Number one, to me, God HAS to be involved.  Pray for strength, endurance, wisdom and guidance as you vow to take care of shell that protects the beautiful gift He created in you.  If you stumble, ask Him to help you up.  When you cross the finish line of your goals, ask Him to focus you on the longer road ahead because your race is just beginning.  Number two, get with a friend or family member....and one that is HONEST.  It doesn't necessarily have to be someone who has weight to lose, truthfully, it shouldn't be.  It needs to be someone "in it"....because their attitude will be contagious.  Remember...misery loves company...so choose wisely.  Just hear me when I say, a honest, true friend will tell you when you are 5 lbs. too much for your Speedo, and they will strategize with you figure out what is left to do to get into them.
     Recognize.  Recognize that you are NOT a super hero.  This is something that if done right...takes time.  Tell your ego, who is screaming "This is taking too long", to SHUT UP!  Get it right...the first time so that you can make a true life change, not just a schedule/behavior change in your day-to-day for a little while.
      Lastly, nothing is going to happen until YOU choose to change it.  I have heard so many times "I lost X amount of weight and gained it all back because I just can't keep doing...."  My response is "You're damn right you can't....because you allowed CAN'T to decide for you."  If you go into it  believing the this time could be like all the others....don't even say you're starting.  Don't start until you decide AND believe that this time is going to be the BEST and LAST time you will ever make this choice again.  Accept the resolve to reach your goal, and keep going.  Don't hit your goal and stop...because the real challenge is maintaining.  That's why so many people can lose 50 or 100 lbs....but check in a year or two later...and its all back.  Because to some hitting a goal means they're done, however, it merely means your goal gets modified.  If you are the one going through life hating "those skinny girls" or "those beefcakes", get over yourself!  It's not because they are in shape or feeling good, it's because you haven't put the effort into it yourself!  They achieved what YOU need, yet won't choose to because "it's too hard" or its not laden with 50 grams of fat or 1500 calories.  Until you're going to make the decision to go for it....shut up, sit down, and don't be hatin'!
     Working out serves as a release for me.  I do it 5-6 times a week to keep my mind sharp, my body healthy, and release stress, worry and fears.  I don't do it so that I can shop in a certain section or store, I do it because my family needs me...and I need them.  Likewise, I need you!  If any of you are looking for a walking, running, workout partner....please call me!  I always need someone to get down with!  For anyone reading this, I encourage you to get started or keep going.  Every race starts with ONE step, and every journey ends when ONE foot crossing the finish line.