Think for a moment about the highest mountain you ever climbed, the deepest valley you ever crossed, or the longest river you ever had to swim. Perhaps it was healing a relationship with an estranged loved one, closing a big deal at work, overcoming an addiction, surviving an illness, succeeding against the odds or making what seemed like an impossible dream come true. I imagine that there were moments in the process when you felt weak, became convinced you could go no further, and wanted to turn back and give up.
A few years ago I decided to walk in an 18-mile marathon. At about the 10-milke mark, I hit the proverbial wall. Every muscle in my body ached, and I hurt in places that doctor's don't even have names for. I was tempted to sit down in the middle of the road and ask the medics to carry me away on a stretcher. I thought there was no way I could make it to the finish line. But I didn't give in to my negative thoughts. What kept me going? How was I able to summon the strength I needed to forge ahead? I focused my mind on how good I was going to feel when I finished what I started. And I reflected on the other times in my life when I thought I had reached the end of my rope, only to find the strength to "tie a knot" and move on. I finished the marathon ? and the experience of almost giving up taught me that the deeper we have to reach inside ourselves to succeed, the greater our sense of accomplishment.
Losing weight or living a healthy life is not easy. It may very well be the hardest thing you ever attempt to do. And it may require you to bring for every ounce of your inner strength and personal power. The same wall we encounter during other challenges in life will invariably rear its ugly head in our journey to lose or manage our weight. There will be days when it will seem as if the universe is conspiring to ensure our failure, to force us to give up on the goals we set in January by throwing cold water on our enthusiasm.
But don't fall into the enticing trap of negativity. You have the capacity to face the invariable challenges that lie ahead. You have the strength to endure setbacks and disappointments. You have the energy to persevere. You have succeeded in other areas of your life, and you can reach the goal you have set to live a healthier life.
Jackie Stanley is the creator of a series of personal wellness and weight loss journals titled "Lettuce Is Not Enough." She can be reached at 336.854.8667 or at jackie@lettuceisnotenough.com.
recurring maid service Buffalo Grove ..Burn fat while you sleep! Eat whatever you want and... Read More
You will be surprised to find out how many people... Read More
Believe it or not, losing a little or a lot... Read More
Every Journey Worth Taking Begins with a Single StepHere are... Read More
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, writing... Read More
In life, various factors contribute to weight gain. Be it... Read More
The following are diet tips that can help you shape... Read More
Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what... Read More
Its crowded..really crowded..every other site offers Weight Loss Programs and... Read More
All of the things we tell sick people so that... Read More
The heated debate, within diet circles, that began a few... Read More
If you've been enjoying life after gastric bypass surgery you... Read More
What are the best fad diets? It's a question I'm... Read More
Just because you're working hard, doesn't mean that you're working... Read More
Now that the temptations of the Holiday season have passed... Read More
Things get so confusing when it comes to understanding what... Read More
WHAT DOES BEING FIT REALLY MEAN?The "INSIDE-OUT" approach to fitness... Read More
CancerCoronary heart diseaseStrokeOsteoporosisMajor Depression from Brain StarvationHeadlines.WASHINGTON, Jun 22, 2004... Read More
Diet Fads-Forget about 'EmAnother fad "best diet" bites the dust.... Read More
Used a diet pill recently and got depressed because you... Read More
We've entered the Twilight Zone when it comes to the... Read More
Learning the jargon is part of the weight loss journey.... Read More
How's the practicing going? Are you spending time each day... Read More
We are inundated by exhortations to lose weight - from... Read More
Many people have asked me what foods they should eat... Read More
premium house cleaning Glenview ..Whole grains and weight loss have a definite, scientific, and... Read More
A very interesting story was reported recently by WebMD.com. A... Read More
Have you heard about coconut oil diets yet? People are... Read More
Most people think of the Atkins diet when they hear... Read More
IT'S NOT ABOUT THE NUMBERS!The health clubs are always racking... Read More
A bad day or even a bad week is not... Read More
Gastric-bypass surgery is only the first step many morbidly obese... Read More
Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day... Read More
Let's face when it comes to overweight and obesity there... Read More
Carnitine is simply the safest and healthiest supplement you can... Read More
It's now official. The simple act of fidgeting can mean... Read More
Everyone has their own individual reason for joining a health... Read More
Do you know anybody who does not wish to get... Read More
The huge companies stealing your money by promising impossible results... Read More
Have you ever decided to take a trip somewhere relatively... Read More
For the person who wants to shed a few pounds... Read More
What is the advantage of these new half sugar and... Read More
I really like Dr. Phil, so I wanted to like... Read More
Individuals who are interested in bariatric surgery need to be... Read More
Chant the following each day, several times. They are mantras... Read More
Diet advice ? a million "experts", hundreds of snake-oil miracle... Read More
These days, Jennifer Secrist has little interest in idle activities.... Read More
Which diet pill are you currently taking for your weight... Read More
Sometime, during the phase of rapid weight loss after gastric... Read More
Are you just exploding with the presence of light all... Read More
Weight Loss |