Before you can begin to make any significant or long-term changes, we have to have a reason that is important enough to make the changes and then actually stick with them.
With anything we start, when there is a deep desire to actually make some changes because we want to, not because someone says we “should”, we have a much greater chance of success. Have our changes in the past been to get someone’s attention, look good at an event that is coming up, satisfy a doctor’s orders, etc. or temporary goals or reasons that weren’t a real “part” of us.
Our “why” needs to run “deep” within us. Some thoughts might be:
- I choose to feel better physically, and about myself.
- I choose to not be a “slave” to my eating, drinking, cigarettes, not being able to run across the road, etc.
- I want to be around to see my kids grown, my grandchildren’s graduation, etc. and be able to enjoy them.
- I want to and am choosing to do what I need to do so I can be healthy enough to enjoy my retirement and not need to go to an “old age” home.
- I want to honor my awesome body and all it does for me on a daily basis.
- I feel good about myself and love my body enough to take care of it.
Therefore, I choose to _________________ (what were some of your changes to incorporate into your life from last week).
As you choose them, change them into affirmations (in the way I have them listed above) that make them your own. And as the AA folks say – you can fake it till you make it (or it may seem that way). I see it as a choice to change our mindset.
Take some time to write your “whys” down and let them become a part of your life 
choices.
Reminder to keep your “1 change” incorporated into your daily / weekly life.
My first 2 changes were to cut down on the amount of bread I ate each day and to park way out away from the building I was going into, making sure I found the stairs instead of using the elevator anytime there was an option to do so. Just adding these little changes, they became habits that I then added more “simple changes” to. Success breeds success. Now it’s just an automatic to pay attention to the amount of bread I eat and I still park “way out” and always climb the stairs when possible.
If you find you chose something that isn’t bringing success – then switch to something else “easier” to give up and add as a place to start.
Remember to be kind to yourself – treat “you” as good as you would someone you really love and care about. Give the support to yourself you would like to receive from others. It might sound a little “weird” but it’s a shift in the mindset of how you “see” you – that does work. Simple shifts that come easy build on your confidence to be able to try other changes you really want to do, but haven’t had the “guts” to because you feel like you won’t be able to sustain it and failure just can’t fit into your life right now. We will build slowly and I know if I can break habits I had for 40 or 50 years, then you can too!
I still have an “eating” disorder, however, I now control “it” instead of “it” controlling me! And the beauty of it is that when it rears its ugly head, I now have a whole arsenal of “tricks up my sleeve” to counter and stop it in the act! If feels wonderful to feel good about myself after years of being self conscious and “worried” about what I looked like and how other’s see me. Now I see me the way God sees me – my own unique person living in a body that feels good and functions well for me. You can be there too – just don’t give up and when you “fail” just get back up and without looking back – get back on track.
Many Blessings,
Rebecca
I Can Do This Lifestyle 