Building a Healthy Lifestyle, Brick by Brick

Sometimes people tell me they feel like giving up on losing weight because they do not have any will power. Others tell me they can't lose weight because they could never give up junk food.

Unfortunately, these folks have not gotten the picture yet. They seem to see themselves as doomed by dieting instead of uplifted by a healthy lifestyle.

Honestly, my choice to limit "junk food" is not so much about giving something up as it is about making a positive choice for my health. That is the lens through which I see my lifestyle.

This view means I am not as tempted to make poor food choices. But I have learned that no particular food has to be permanently off-limits. Anything can find its way into a healthy lifestyle, if practiced in moderation. It really is all about balance.

However, true change occurs slowly. So my advice, if you want it, is to tackle just one change at a time. Choose something that you can commit to doing daily, however small, and keep working it until that change becomes a habit. Then, add on something new. Build your new lifestyle brick-by-brick and you will have a solid foundation.

The Power of Positivity

Recently, I was thinking about the power of the mind in this journey, and the importance of maintaining a positive attitude and outlook.

Since day one of my journey, there was never a moment where I doubted I would ultimately achieve my goals. Sure, there were bumps, blips, and wrong turns along the road. But I never allowed those obstacles to stop my progress. Instead, I viewed all challenges as opportunities rather than impediments.

I have truly come to appreciate the power of positivity.

Among the illusive "secrets of success" for successful weight loss, we must put positivity at the top of the list. If you believe, you will achieve. We really can do just about anything we set out minds to do, but we must believe that failure is just NOT an option.

Sure, on my personal journey to better health and fitness, not every day was easy. But it was "mind over matter" that allowed me to drop over 100 pounds. And it was certainly "mind over matter" that helped me cross the finish line of my first half marathon.

So believe in yourself! You are on a journey, not running in a race; there is no finish line. Be persistent, not perfect. You may trip, or even fall down, but your success depends on you getting up just one more time than you fall. And know that you will reach all your goals. Think positive!

Respect the Rules

Although I am enjoying my new place in Maintenanceville, I am still a very new resident and thus continually learning how to acclimate to my new surroundings. And this place is not so much a destination as a new beginning. In fact, I often feel like the real journey began when I reached my goal weight.

You see, I know how to lose weight. After all, I've done it lots of times! But of course, I also know how to gain weight. I've done that lots of times, too. However, maintenance is still uncharted territory. So I often self-reflect to try to figure out how to best use the skills I learned during weight loss to ensure my success in weight management.

For example, I recognize that I have developed certain nonnegotiable rules during my journey that govern how I conduct myself day-to-day in regard to food and exercise. But today I realized that I do not just follow the rules, I respect the rules.

Respect carries with it admiration and reverence. I do not follow my set of rules simply because I should obey them. I do so because I value the purpose for the rules: My continued health and well-being.

Although the outcome may look the same either way, the vantage points are infinitely different from one another. And having this particular outlook really helps strengthen my resolve and keep me "on the straight and narrow" when it comes to making healthy choices.