Even though you’re not happy about it, you’ve probably decided to accept the fact that obesity is a condition and that you’re stuck with it long-term.
Today I want you to add one more piece—you have to be willing to accept the solution. That means you not only have to live in a way that matches your goals at the moment, you have to accept that you’ll be doing this for the rest of your life.
And for some people, this is even harder than accepting the condition. Here’s a phrase that I think fits this perfectly:
A decision about what to weigh is a decision about how to live.
In other words, if you’re committed to staying at your goal weight, you have to adopt the way of life that goes with it.
To manage your weight long-term, you’ll always have to apply certain guidelines and boundaries to your food intake. That means you no longer have the option of supersizing your meals or eating everything you want.
It also means that you’ll need to develop a realistic exercise program that works for all of the seasons.
And when holidays roll around, you’ll have to come up with a clear strategy to help you get through the mounds of mashed potatoes, candy, and pumpkin pie.
Even with making a clear decision about “how to live,” you’ll probably have days or even weeks when you’ll let up on your efforts. But to be successful over the long run, you’ll have to commit to always accepting the solution.
Today’s assignment (My answers are in blue)
1. Think about your solutions for the condition of obesity. Are you willing to accept the changes you’ll have to make in order to manage this for life? In what areas do you have some resistance to this?
I seem to always have resistance to this. I want to be able to eat carbs freely as well as cookies and desserts. It seems so unfair. I want to eat like I did in my 20’s, and not gain weight as a result.
2. Write down your thoughts on how you can work on accepting the solution.
For me, it’s pretty important that I have a clear plan and then use it. I also benefit from keeping strong routines with my meals as well as my exercise program.
3. Decide what you want to weigh long-term, then describe how you can live in a way that supports that decision.
I know that my long-term way to live includes eating smaller portions, lower carb intake, and doing lots of exercise. I don’t always do this, but it’s the blueprint I live from.