Mind Over Matter

So, I mentioned an article that I had read the other day that made a lot of good points about fitness. Each point really resonated with me and I found myself completely agreeing with them. But there was one that stood out the most because it's 1000% true: Weight loss is not a physical challenge – it’s a mental one.

I had to make that stand out to you. I also want you to read it over and over and over again. I wish I had gotten this many years ago, when I was a teenager struggling to lose weight and get skinny because of guys. I felt that that was the only way I was ever going to be appealing. Oh how I'd give anything to go back in time and have a real heart to heart with my 16 year old self!! Anyway, the past is the past and I can't change that. But I am in complete control of my present and future health, and let me tell you, it's an awesome feeling to finally know I have let go. 

Up until when I finally started to make, and stick, with changes in 2012, it didn't seem to matter what I did. I would put on my clothes and remark about how they were getting tight and I really needed to change that because frankly, even my biggest size clothes were becoming harder and harder to do up. It also didn't seem to matter how I was feeling physically, how winded I got on the stairs. Not even all the times that I broke down in tears upon looking in the mirror, hating what I saw, made any difference. Isn't that crazy?! 

It's true though. None of that mattered. It was until my "mental snap", for lack of a better description, that it finally happened. Mentally, I was finally tired of feeling like crap, hating myself, hating everything. I had had enough. It was time to make changes. It was time to stick with those changes. I have some days where I think "I'm not going to track today". I quickly dismiss those thoughts. As much as it's a pain sometimes, it's what I need to do. So far, it's been very successful for me so why in the world would I give that up?! What's the old saying? "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". Sometimes, I do wish I didn't have to try so hard. But, I am even more determined to never allow myself to get back to my previous weight. NEVER. That was even harder.