Photo: Contributed
Even if there was an impetus for change that prompted you to make the decision to implement that change, and even if you began to see results, if the reason you were doing it was otherwise, all the progress you made It’s short-lived… Don’t come from your heart.
Every change you’ve ever made to improve your health and achieve a healthy weight started with a decision. It came as a result of agonizing. Decisions are strong. At least decisions are powerful when the “what” or “why” behind them comes from the right place.
When it comes to health, especially weight loss, it’s important to know why you’re doing it. If you ask people why they decided to start exercising, lose weight, or eat cleaner, they’ll probably say: A few pounds before my high school reunion’ or ‘I’m going on a cruise in a few months, so I know my bathing suit and everything.’
Undoubtedly, these are the moments that motivate people to take action and start seeing results. However, it’s not usually the moment you can sustain those results.
Even if there is an impetus for change that prompts you to make a decision to implement it, and even if you start to see results, “it’s short-term and doesn’t address the big picture.
Simply put, “reasons” based on the ego rather than those that come from the heart are not very helpful in the long run. It’s not enough to get frustrated with your weight and tell yourself to shed the extra pounds and fit in your favorite pair of jeans by Christmas. As long as you make changes, you will definitely get results. Remember, anyone can lose weight. Ask your dieter. They repeated it several times.
But how to maintain it is a much bigger and more important question. And it all comes down to the source of your ‘why’.
What I’ve noticed over the years in talking to clients is that most people, like the example above, start jumping in and focusing on their health and weight because something suddenly becomes urgent. Simply put, the reason I jump in is based solely on my reflection in the mirror. It is purely ego driven.
Just to be clear, if you’ve ever wanted to look better in a bathing suit, I’m not saying you have a big ego. Perhaps most of us would have liked it at one time or another. Rather, those reasons come from the surface.
[The people who make them]are only looking at the short term. And when that short period is over and you don’t have a long-term one to back it up and keep it going, it’s very easy to put all the good habits by the wayside when you’re just starting out in life.
In order to be successful, to achieve your health and weight goals and have true success that you can keep at it for the rest of your life, you have to come from the heart: “Why am I doing this?” “I’ve watched my mom go on a yo-yo diet for years and I don’t want to live like that. I want my kids to have a healthy relationship with food.” I can’t let my family do that” or “I don’t want to be too old to travel and explore the ways and places I love. It needs to be taken care of.” Powerful because it comes from the heart.
That ego “why” that started you, so be it. I welcome whatever motivates you to start on the road to good health. But I don’t think it’s enough and ask myself, “Why am I doing this?” is a big mistake.
Having an approach to follow that focuses on health rather than diet will definitely help steer you in the right direction. It’s your heartfelt “why” that allows you to keep up with all the great results you’ve achieved.
If you’re ready to quit dieting, find out why and get results that last a lifetime. Book a free evaluation call with Tania and join her All in 8 Weeks group on Facebook.
This article was written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect Castanet’s views.
