One Step
"The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." Lao Tzu
Can you walk a thousand miles? For many of us embarking on the journey of losing a significant amount of weight can seem as daunting as being asked to walk a thousand miles. In some ways it can be. Making the decision to get healthier for good is difficult: emotionally, physically, and spiritually, not to mention actually doing the work to make it happen.
If you feel ready to take the first step to make a change, we are ready to help you. This portion of Skinnywishes.com is designed to provide support and answers to questions from therapists that specialize in helping people to achieve healthier lifestyles. For many of us, we know what we want to change, but tend to stumble with how to make those changes lasting especially when we find road blocks in our way.
Here are four things to consider before you take that first step:
- Take an inventory of your life. What do you need to change? Be brutally honest with yourself. Are you living the life that you want to right now? What are you waiting for? It is important that as you take this inventory you look at the risks and benefits of both changing and not changing. What would my life look like if I were to change? What would my life look like if I don't change? At this point, you don't need to get caught up with how you are going to do it, but just look at the big picture.
- Commit to the process of losing weight. This journey is going to be unique for each person that embarks on it. But, one thing is the same; it is going to be tough. It requires strength, determination, courage, and the willingness to fall and get right back up. One thing is for sure, you have to stay committed. Undoubtedly, you will find a strategy that works great for you only to turn around and realize that it does not anymore. How will you make this a priority in your life? Our lives are already busy with work, family, and other commitments. You will not find that you magically have several more hours in the day to commit to meal planning and exercise. You need to make this a priority and carve out that time for yourself. It is one thing to recognize the desire to change; it is another altogether to do the hard work. Spend some time thinking about how you will commit to the process of change.
- Set up a support system. Embarking on the journey towards health is most likely to be successful with a team to help. It is important to consult a physician whenever making changes to our health. Depending on the way in which you are going to try to lose weight, you may need help from professionals (doctors, surgeons, counselors, dietician, exercise specialists, etc.). Research what resources are available in your area and find a program that meets your needs. Enlist trusted family and friends to help you along the way. No one can do this for you, but you will be more likely to succeed with loving people in your life supporting you. Finally, it may be helpful to find a network of others trying to lose weight for support. The Skinny Wishes website can help you to find professionals in your area and provide a supportive place to come with questions.
- Believe in yourself. I honestly believe the most difficult part of making lifestyle changes is our confidence. For many of us, our eating habits and weight problems are not because we just don't know what foods are healthy. The problems are buried deep inside us. The majority of people have tried to lose weight in the past and have failed. Instead of focusing on the great strides we are making, we are just waiting for the other shoe to drop. In order to become successful, you need to believe that you have the strength within yourself to not only make some big changes, but to ask for help when you are struggling. The only way to fail is to give up permanently. Believe in yourself, keep trying, never give up and you will find success.
Are you ready to begin? If you have taken the time to consider these, then you are probably more prepared than you think. When you are ready we are here to help you on your thousand mile journey every step of the way.