Mission Hotness

In the past few weeks, I have physically been very dedicated to reaching for my goals. I am very close with only 20lbs to lose before I will feel healthy and beautiful. So close, I can taste it. I have been to the gym almost every day, giving it no less than 110 percent. With running, resistance training, and yoga; I feel my routine is well rounded and I should be seeing results. But, I stepped on the scale, and guess what… I’ve gained weight again, AGAIN. That is discouraging. For most of us, stepping on the scale is the biggest fear and not to mention the hardest part of our weight loss journey. Facing that number.
Feeling defeated tonight, I found myself halfway through a large bag of the most delicious tortilla chips ever created. YUM. Boy did it feel great to indulge!
Yeah, great for a few minutes, until I realized that this is why my hard work is not paying off. Coming down from that high, I began to recognize that our lives are filled with many moments where we give in to our demons for the hope of that wonderful feeling of instant gratification. Gratification, like all emotions, is a motivator of behavior and sometimes we think that this impulsive behavior will somehow satisfy the pain we are feeling. It comes in many forms, for everyone that little demon may be slightly different and not necessarily in all cases related to food. A few examples: Buying that expensive purse you have had your eye on (even though your rent is due tomorrow), Putting another twenty dollars down on the blackjack table (while you know you are going to be late for dinner with your family), Pouring yourself another drink (because man did you have a rough day), or eating that second piece of cake at the party because well… you deserve it, right? But tell me, how does the aftermath effect you? Do you still feel great while you are promising your landlord that next months rent will be on time, while you are making excuses to your family for your tardiness, while you just need to lay down because now the room is spinning, or when that cake makes a second appearance in that famous number on the scale; still feel great? Nope.
We have just given in to something for nothing. Deal breaker. Two steps forward and one ridiculous step backward. We are better than this.
The point I am trying to make is this: Let those moments when you feel discouraged empower you to be better. In whatever we do, the times when we feel our weakest are the instances in which we need to push forward stronger than ever. Consider this… Pay your rent on time and create a respectful rapport with your landlord, show up on time for your family and strengthen their faith in you, push away the last drink for a glass of water and the next day will not be nearly as rough, or be satisfied with that one small piece of cake because you respect your hard work and you deserve to see results. These situations in the positive reverse keep on giving and keep on making you feel great. While maybe just knowing the significance of your actions isn’t readily gratifying, as a person in doing these things, we will be stronger. The effects will be long lasting and we are able to touch more lives with our inner strength. People notice.
We need to remember that we are role models. Sometimes we might not think that people are watching, but they are. The people who know your goals and look up to you for your motivational qualities in sticking with the routine, they are watching you. Think about someone that inspires you. Have you told them to their face that you admire them for achieving or reaching toward their goals or do you just study their actions from afar? In most cases, it’s from afar. Point in case; you too are that person to someone else. Just keep that in mind the next time you feel compelled to polish off a half a bag of tortilla chips. What did I do? I wrote this. And I feel much better. I am ready to hop back on board.

Jamie