What I Learned When I Stopped Forcing Weight Loss

Winter is often the time we gain the most weight. It's cold and we are not as active as we are in the warmer months. We might spend more time watching tv, scrolling the internet, and eating out of boredom. 

It took me most of my adult life to realize and understand that diets are not only about weight loss and fitting into a smaller size. It is about accepting who you are and wanting to regain your health. To be able to live life to the fullest, whatever that means to you. To me it was being able to play with my grandbabies, hike, bike, and feel capable and healthy while I did those things. 

The road to health for me started with fear of a condition that would have taken my ability to physically be able to participate in life. Multiple Sclerosis is a very scary disease and I am thankful my test came back negative. I felt as if I was given a second chance and I wasn’t going to waste it.

I knew the way I tackled weight loss in the past didn’t work and I set out to learn about nutrition and how to eat to gain health. At the end of the day the easiest way to describe how I lost 74 pounds and went from a size 18 to a size 4, was patience.

I set myself a goal every week and I worked on it everyday. I didn’t always have a perfect week, in fact most weeks were imperfect, but I continued to move forward anyways.

I was asked, "Weren't you afraid to fail?" Failure is when you stop trying, was my response. 

We are not perfect, but giving your best everyday will create results you want. Maybe not as fast as those fad diets promise, but slow and steady. Habits take time to form, but once they do, it is part of who you are.

So my advice to you is take it slow, pick small doable goals and set out to regain your health, one day at a time. And in some cases, one hour at a time.

The important thing to remember is you are worth the effort and don’t be hard on yourself if you slip up. Just dust yourself off and continue to work on your goals without being disappointed in yourself for falling off “The Plan” 

Be proud of yourself for all the effort you already put in and how you're changing your life.