Are You Ready and Willing to Lose Weight, Part 2

Chappelear describes several types of willingness that can be applied for our purposes to the subject of weight loss.

Be willing to face your fears. You may have fears or blocks that keep you from participating in a weight loss program or doing what it takes to lose weight. For instance, do you avoid going to the gym because you think you look too fat in your workout clothes? Do you think all eyes are upon you, thinking derogatory thoughts? (Remember, most people’s thoughts are on themselves, not you.) Maybe you’re intimidated by all the unfamiliar equipment.

We often fear that we will look ridiculous in front of others. But hiding out is not the answer. You can’t find success under a rock! Examine your fears. If you want to move forward, you will need to push your fears aside.

Be willing to begin. You don’t have to make huge alterations in your life. Huge changes can be overwhelming. Sometimes you just don’t know where to start. Chappelear suggests breaking a desired action into smaller steps and writing down specific tasks for each. Just start out with a small step, then another small step. Pretty soon, you will find yourself more than half way there!

For instance, you can learn and adopt a new Diet Secret every week. Gradually retool your diet, replacing unhealthy choices with better ones. Add more fruits, vegetables, and high fiber foods over time. If you haven’t exercised before, take a walk around the block. Gradually, increase your distance. When you’re ready for the next step, add some weight training. When you become comfortable with your exertion level, push it to the next.

Be willing to learn. Continue to read and explore. When we were children, learning was second nature. Unfortunately, many adults close themselves off from learning new things. They may think they know all they need to know. But our brains are marvelously capable of absorbing new information. Our thinking organs are creative and need only a little stimulus to come up with new ideas. The power of one idea may be enough to change your life dramatically!

Be willing to persevere. You must know how important this is. But the willingness to persevere is the most difficult for many of us. When it comes to weight loss, perseverance is the key to success. You know that you can’t just make changes for a day or even a week. You may lose 5 pounds in a week. But if you don’t stick with your new diet and exercise program, you will most likely regain the weight rather quickly.

The good news? When you practice a new behavior over and over, it becomes a habit. Habitual behaviors don’t take a lot of thought or effort. They can become easy, just second nature.

So, when life knocks you down, brush yourself off, stand up, and go at it again. Don’t beat yourself up with thoughts of failure or self-criticism. Learn from the effort. Then go at it again. Fine tune your strategy.

No one achieves success without some effort or perseverance. I repeat, nobody. But change can be enjoyable, even fun, with the right attitude.

There are always going to be hurdles in life. But take it one step at a time. Practice persistence. Keep an open mind and a happy heart. Success will be yours!

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Be sure to check out my FREE Special Report about "20 Weight Loss Mistakes You Don't Want to Make". Be willing to take that first step!