You're the only person you have to live with the rest of your life
If there are people out there who are looking to get healthy, but don't know where to start, or feel like they'll be shamed, I hope that they see the mannequins of people who look like them and realize that they are not alone. There's an entire market of people just like you wanting the same thing.
I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.
You are your thoughts, habits, and actions. The only way to change your life is to change yourself.
I believe this is why support groups like AA and weight watchers and the like are so important. Humans are, at our core, social beings. We need to connect with others. We need support, whether we like to admit it or not, but we can't always get that at home with the people who are happy in the status quo or feel more comfortable holding our pasts against us. When it's time for a change.. sometimes we have to make bold sweeping changes. We need to turn away from getting comfort in what's familiar and move on to a new tribe if you like. The most important thing is not letting other's define your identity.
We always think that it takes years for crap food to do any real damage, but the truth is the garbage we put in our body is poison. It starts hurting us the moment it hits our lips and it doesn't stop till we clean it from our lives. Don't get me wrong, an occasional "treat" is one thing... a lifestyle of trash is something else. Everything in moderation... but our bodies are vehicles and need the proper fuel to make it work smoothly.
We have officially started our new lives. We all have our resolutions stated, our diets, our business plans, our ideas for what ever our dreams may be. I have heard a lot of talk on radio stations, and of course the memes are in full swing, but you know what I mostly noticed. It's all negative, self deprecating, designed to fail talk.
If you are on your path to a healthier you. Whether it's weight-loss, substance abuse, or even getting a better job, be careful of your peers. Be careful of those who seem to always lead you down the path of the dark side... with those cookies. You know the voices that you hear in your head that say it's ok... you can just have one... well, they are hard enough to ignore. When you hear them from those who love you it's even more challenging.
A lot of people talk about positive thinking... but you can't just tell yourself "I'm fit" or "I'm not an addict" and expect that to change your life. You have to retrain your brain. You have to picture yourself fit.. you have to picture all the new habits that you need to develop to become that person. You have to retrain your brain into thinking of yourself as the person who works out regularly.. that chooses fresh fruits, veggies, and lean proteins.. instead of the person who thinks of themselves as sitting on the couch eating pizza.
"You're right, anything can happen, and if you're going to imagine things happening. Imagine good things."
No one wants to "do the work" anymore. When you look at the check out line magazines, the random ads on the internet or TV, or a million books in the bookstores and they are all "get..... quick". It doesn't matter what it is. Get rich, lose weight... find the perfect man. It's all about the here and now moment.