When
I turned 27, I knew that it was time to set some goals. I suddenly realized that I was no longer a
child! This realization did take me
longer than most because I was afraid to admit that I was responsible for my choices
and actions. But when I realized that I
had graduated from college and purchased my first home there was no denying
that I was a responsible adult. To
overcome my fear of the future I wrote a personal constitution.
The
entire document can be summarized into one sentence: I want to lead a healthy
life. I had set goals to be healthy
emotionally, mentally, socially and physically. I was not sure how to improve
my physical health and so I did nothing for quite a while. Though this part of
my life was standing still, I was making healthy progress in other areas of my
life.
Finally
I decided it was time to get going on my physical health. Weight loss was not the first area that I
started with. About 6 months prior to
starting this program, I was able to get some minor healthy issues
resolved. These small successes helped
motivate me and raised my level of physical health self-efficacy. Even with these added skills, I was still not
ready to start a weight loss program.
I took
some time to think about what I needed in a program to be successful. I knew that I needed a plan that was very
structured and made me accountable to someone.
It also had to fit into my very busy schedule. I am a full-time graduate student and work
full-time. So finding time to fit
another project into my day is challenging.
When I found this program I was ecstatic! I read and reread this information on the
website. After meeting with Nanette, I
was convinced this was the right program for me.
I have
been very pleased with how the last 12-14 weeks have gone. I have been able to drop about 5 dress sizes,
even over Thanksgiving and my 30th birthday. The question that I
have been asked most often over the past 12-14 weeks is how do you stay so
committed? I have two answers.
1.
First,
I use a lot of self-talk. I often get
cravings or want to revert to unhealthy behaviors, eating fast food after a
final for example. But I have a
conversation with myself, mentally of course, and I ask myself why am I
eating? “Are you hungry? When was the last time you ate? How are you feeling emotionally?” As I answer these questions, I identify if my
body needs fuel or my soul needs soothing.
I have been able to avoid a lot of overeating with this self-talk
patter.
2.
Second,
I answer – I’m happy. I feel that I am
at a point in my life where I am in control of the choices I make and the
direction my life is going. Being in
control of my own actions has given me direction and meaning in my life. I like being able to work towards a goal that
I know that I can accomplish through hard work and effort.
As I
have worked towards meeting the goals I set in my personal constitution, I have
been able to improve the overall health of my life and weight loss. Hopefully
this plan will help me continue on this path and gain greater health and
happiness.