True Freedom?

"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free." -Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Yes, that was me 2 1/2 years ago.  Falsely believing I was "free".

I could eat whatever I wanted, I argued.  I wasn't constrained by the bounds of any "diet".

I was fooling myself.  I was killing myself.  My freedom to "eat whatever I wanted" had become, quite literally, my prison walls.  My dungeon.  Sure.  I was free to "eat" what I wanted, as if this THIS freedom alone was the highest thing I could aspire to.  As if my "freedom" to eat what I wanted was the noblest freedom I owned.

Then I awoke from that nightmare of broken dreams. 

And I began to DO the work and SUBMIT to the plan and DROP the weight and....guess what?  I realized that I had been in a prison of my own making. 

I realized that the ULTIMATE freedom for MY situation was actually the freedom to choose restraint.  The freedom to choose to adopt the Medifast 5&1 and the Take Shape For Life System in order to truly achieve that which had thus far eluded me my entire life.

To attain and maintain a healthy weight.  To feel "normal" and alive.  To NOT have every thought and every desire be food-focused. 

To start living a life of MY choosing.

Yes, that German philosopher Goethe, he was surely on to something.

And I want to shout it to the world.

Happy Take-Shape-For-Life-ing!  Rinse and Repeat!

Which Moment Was THE Moment?

"When did you just KNOW that you had made this a lifestyle and not just another diet?  What was the TRIGGER that caused that?"

While on my walk this morning, I was pondering this question that a good friend asked me the other day.  And it perplexed me a bit.  Because this second time around, I can't point to an "epipha-ME" that set the stage for me just KNOWING that this time I WILL maintain my weight.

And while I DO just KNOW, I can't point to a single causal event which was "the magic bullet" which caused the change in my head.

But I had some thoughts that I'll share anyway about the subject because I think it is a good one to consider.

I can point to THE EVENT which caused me to decide back on 06/07 that I WAS going to DO THIS OR DIE TRYING so to speak, and that was when I stumbled in a parking lot with my 1-year-old son in my arms, we both went down slow motion and he hit his head on the pavement.  THAT was a deep place of emotional pain and conflict for me, knowing that my morbid class IV obesity was not only threatening MY life but HIS as well, that I could actually cause him harm because I was so large and cumbersome that I couldn't catch myself when I slightly turned my ankle in a pothole.  Yes, that was a painful life-altering event for me, very much so. 

And yes, I did lose 140 pounds in 14 months after that.   But I didn't keep it off.  That one perspective-changing "trigger" wasn't "enough" in and of itself to maintain my weight and make it a permanent change.

After I gained it all back and marinated for a couple of years, I decided, made the decision, to "do it again" but this time I committed to going in to the Take Shape For Life process, complete with getting a Health Coach, and reading Dr. A's Habits of Health.  So I did.  And I'm down 130 pounds and maintaining.

I don't "wait" for some emotional pain or conflict to come in and be the "reason" I can stick to this day in and day out.  I wake up in the morning, and I choose health.  I do this daily.  It's not a "once and for all" kind of decision.  I guess that is what makes it a lifestyle is that I do it every morning.

My conversation with myself goes something like this in the mornings:

Me:"So, you're up.  Go get your coffee and first meal"
Me:"Ok."
Me:"Now go for your walk."
Me:"OK."
It DOESN'T go like this:
"Oh man I'm so tired of this struggle!  What I wouldn't give for a Starbucks Coffee Cake and Venti Caramel Frappuchino with whip!"

NEITHER do I take my emotional temperature to consult my feelings about whether or not I desire to be on plan today, like this:
Me:"I don't feel like having a Medifast Meal"
Me:"Ok then don't.  You can always start tomorrow."

There is one fact about myself that I know will be true today, tomorrow, and in 10 years time.  That fact is that if I give myself extra calories over and above my daily needs, I WILL gain weight.  THIS doesn't EVER change.  And it never will.  And I will never allow myself to get into the place where my weight CAUSES me emotional stress or pain, so I don't use THAT as my motivation.  Because waiting for emotional pain and stress to come and be my motivation necessitates that I GAIN weight and then have to RELOSE it.

I don't make my decision to stay on my eating plan based upon how I am feeling at any given moment.  For me, I have set "attaining AND MAINTAINING a healthy weight" as my primary goal.  So all of my decisions revolve around what will further my primary goal.  And that is it.

My primary goal is not "To Lose Weight".  It is "To Attain and Maintain a Healthy Weight" which, guess what, is a lifetime pursuit.  It doesn't have a deadline.  It doesn't expire.  The need for it never diminishes.  And it keeps me in a place of peace in that area of my life, so that I CAN GO AND LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE.  Yes, it gives me the freedom to be truly me.  All of me.  All the time. 

So people do still ask "What was THE moment" and I guess my answer would be "This one.  Whatever moment I am CURRENTLY in is THE moment I choose to act in a manner in accordance with obtaining my primary goal."

Happy Take Shape For Life-ing!  Rinse and Repeat!

Too Many Choices!

As I sit here reminiscing on another year gone by, I am floored by the sheer amount of choices I get to make each day!

I get to decide whether I'd like to go for a bike ride, a run, a swim, a walk.

I get to choose whether I'd like to wear my size 4 jeans or my size 6 dress for my next outing.

I get to choose whether I'll wear my knee-high leather boots with that, or my 3-inch heels.

I get to choose to work towards my habits of health today, or my habits of disease.

I choose health.

Because 2 years ago my only choices were XXXL ratty old sweatpants with holes in the thighs, and 4XL men's t-shirts.  Oh and yes, my old worn out "sensible" shoes.

Two years ago I could either choose to sit on the couch and use the remote to switch the channels, or heave myself up to get a snack from the kitchen before watching "The Biggest Loser" and wondering if I should apply.  I did qualify, after all.

No, I'll take my current choices over my options 2 years ago any day and twice on Sundays.

Thank you TSFL!  Thank you Susan (my health coach) and most of all, thank you ME for making the choices and choosing health even though there were days that I faltered.  I am oriented towards health, and health is where I will stay.

When The Bloom is Off The Rose.....

Do you remember when we were kids, and we'd get a new toy, and it would be THE COOLEST THING.... for about 3 days.

Then it would become uninteresting and we'd discard it under the bed going in search for newer and more exciting things?

Well, for the January starters, I don't think it is too early to say "BEWARE" of this phenomenon as regards your program.

I started a new exercise program on December 31st.  I was psyched.  January 1st came and I joyously got my walking shoes on and out the door I went.  Again, excited.  I could FEEL the change in the air.

January 2nd came and I was happy I was doing it, making a real difference, I felt a little lighter and stronger, and that feeling carried me through my program. 

January 3rd came and I found my mind wandering during the program.

January 4th came and I got half-way through and wanted to stop.  I was bored.

I did NOT stop, however, because I recognized that perseverance BEGINS where enthusiasm STOPS.

And the results I desire take TIME, so in order to get there I need to persevere even when I don't feel like doing it.  When I'd rather be drinking coffee and reading the paper.  When I'd rather be surfing Facebook and catching up with all my friends. 

The same with Medifast and Take Shape For Life.  Right about now, for all of the January 1st starters, it is getting a bit TEDIOUS.  A bit BORING.  I'll bet some of you are already searching other programs because perhaps this one hasn't lived up to all of your expectations.  Maybe the food is a little bland.  Maybe you are bored.

And I say to YOU:

So you are bored.  What does that have to do with anything?

We were emotional eaters, let's not be emotional dieters.  Heck, let's not be dieters at ALL, let's make this a lifestyle change which, when repeated accurately and truthfully on a daily basis, will get us to optimal health.

It's the "repeat accurately and truthfully on a daily basis" wherein lies the rub.  This is the difficult part to ACT on.  But I will tell you this, if you execute this plan as written faithfully over the next several months, just one day at a time, you will experience STUNNING results.

So do the work.  So what if it is boring.  Filling your car is boring too, but you do it.  Paying your bills is boring too.  You want exciting?  Go see a movie.  Jump out of an airplane.  Learn how to surf.  Don't try to gain a purpose of "fun and entertaining" out of your eating plan.  That is what got us here, remember?

Keep on keeping on!  Happy Take Shape For Life-ing!  Rinse and Repeat!

The Mechanics of Success

Sometimes staying on plan can be as basic as the following scenario:

Wake up:  Make decision to eat 1st Medifast Meal within 1 hour of waking.  Then do it.
Drink 15 ounces of water.2-3 hours later:  Make decision to eat next Medifast Meal.  Then do it.
Drink 15 ounces of water.
2-3 hours later:  Make decision to eat properly weighed and measured Lean and Green Meal with the appropriate number of healthy fats added.  Then do it.
Drink 15 ounces of water.
2-3 hours later:  Make decision to eat next Medifast Meal.  Then do it.
Drink 15 ounces of water.
2-3 hours later:  Make decision to eat next Medifast Meal.  Then do it.
Drink 15 ounces of water.
2-3 hours later:  Make decision to eat next Medifast Meal.  Then do it.
Drink 15 ounces of water.

This is the dynamics of the plan, and if we can manage to have our Medifast routine running in the background (like a constantly cycling computer program) while we fully live our lives in the foreground, then we aren't missing out on ANYTHING, but we ARE creating something amazing in our lives.  One decision at a time.

Happy Medifasting!  Rinse and Repeat!

You CAN do this, but only YOU can do this!

This was a brand new concept for me when I learned it, but it has changed my life.

Ever feel like the cards are just stacked against you?  Ever feel like everyone in the office is out to sabotage your weight loss efforts?  Ever feel like your MIL made that lasagna out of spite, that she doesn't want you to succeed?  Ever feel like your cat who just hurled a big juicy one on the kitchen counter where you make your morning shake is determined to see you fail?

Well, I have one concept for you to remember which will especially come in handy for the next 3 weeks of seemingly endless office potlucks, open houses, and family get-togethers.

Are you ready for it?  Well it's in the title so I already gave it away. 

You CAN do this, but only YOU can do this.  It isn't your co-workers responsibility to throw down rose petals in front of you as you walk, or stop making microwave popcorn on the break because it might throw YOU over the edge.  It isn't your MIL's intent (well maybe it is, but you don't have to let on that you are aware of it) to sabotage your weight loss efforts, and even if it IS, isn't the best response to get healthy anyway?  Your cat is just your cat, and is disinterested at best.  =)

So let me ask you, are you at the point yet where you are realizing that this journey is up to NO ONE BUT YOU?  That YOU determine how you will act today?  And that your body will respond to what you put into it today, whether it be a perfectly 100% On Plan Day or whether you throw yourself under the bus before lunch with those Starbucks Cake Pops?  Yeah I'm talking to YOU LOL. 

And I'm talking to myself also.  I am going on a cruise this next week, and I have planned to set myself up for success.  I already know that wine is my weakness, I already know that chocolate mousse has the power IF I ALLOW IT THAT POWER, to charm me right over the edge.  I could blame it on the waiter for asking.  I could blame it on the menu for listing it.  I could even blame my sweet Father, who is taking my sister's family and my family on this wonderful cruise, and say he is really out to get me.  Sure, I could do all of that.  But at the end of the day, my success depends solely on the decision I am willing to make at any particular moment.

No one is duct taping me to a chair and forcing me at gunpoint to say "I'd like a glass of house red please".  Not one person.  Well, I could argue that my inner brat has secretively been taking target practice lessons without my knowledge, she does seem to get smarter every day, but no.  I digress.  My point here is that no matter what happens to ANY of us over the next 3 weeks, it is our responsibility and ONLY our responsibility to make our OWN decisions.

So, come January 1st, what will you be able to say?  Will you say "I did it!" and be down 5-10 pounds from where you are right now? 

Or will you be one of the ones who say "Blah blah blah stressful blah blah blah my sister blah blah blah my MIL blah blah blah stupid cat blah blah blah wine blah blah blah office party couldn't offend blah blah blah no one knows I'm on Medifast blah blah blah couldn't blow my cover blah blah blah?"  

Cuz you know it is only YOU who can do this.  You do know that, right?

(And just one more afterthought....if no one knows you are on Medifast then you may as well NOT lose weight.  So you are kind of shooting yourself in the foot there.)

Happy Medifasting!

We were emotional eaters....

We were emotional eaters.....

Ever wake up and just not feel it?  Not be "in" to it?  Not be "excited" to do it?  Not be "jazzed" about it? 

Ever wake up and feel...ambivalent about what you will eat today, ambivalent about your Lean and Green?

CONGRATULATIONS! 

Why do I say that?  Because you are now beginning to understand that this process does NOT have to be an emotional roller coaster in order to work.  We don't HAVE to feel all gung-ho and motivated and rah-rah every single day or risk crashing in to the gutter.

We CAN continue to decide, on a rational basis not an emotional one, that we will go about our 5&1 day anyway, no matter whether we "feel" like it or not.

And it is imperative that we do exactly that.  Because we were emotional eaters, we don't have to be emotional dieters.

What is an emotional dieter?  Someone who only sticks to the plan if they are feeling like it.  Tell me, do you consult your feelings when you fill up your car with gas?  Do you consult your feelings every morning when you wake up, to determine whether you feel like staying married to your spouse today or not?  Do you consult your feelings when you go to brush your teeth?  No?  Then don't consult your feelings every day regarding whether you will stay on plan.  Just stay.  On.  Plan.

"But my motivation, my resolve, what do I do when it isn't there?"

Simple.  You do the plan.  Just like any other day.  That is, if you desire to achieve your goal of attaining and maintaining a healthy weight.  Quit relying on your emotions all the time to determine your action.  Emotion actually FOLLOWS action, and sometimes it doesn't.  But either way, your fat doesn't care how you feel.  Your fat responds to what you do or don't put in to your body.  Simple. 

So determine with your MIND that this is a commitment, whether or not you are "feeling" it, you chose this.  YOU chose this, it wasn't foisted upon you by someone else.  So stick with your commitment and do this thing. 

Happy Medifasting!  Rinse and Repeat!