A friend was very discouraged when a loved one told her to quit trying to lose weight because her relatives are all heavy, so therefore she is also “destined” to be overweight. I shared some of the following thoughts with her and hope they might also be encouraging to others.
YOU are the one who decides who you will be — not your genes. Genetics do play a role, and may make weight loss more challenging for some of us. But if you decide that you want to be in the best shape you can possibly be in, you can be. Start right now making the little choices that will help you move in that direction. Keep in mind that you are aiming for your OWN best shape, not the best shape somebody else is in, or the same shape as the skinny model on the cover of that magazine staring at you from the supermarket check-out lane. It’s important to be realistic, and to take into account your own body structure. Everybody has a different skeletal frame size and different amounts of muscle mass. Those things ARE determined by our genes. But ALL body types can benefit from Oxycise! and living healthy — and will become more fit, healthy and shapely if we consistently make healthy choices.
A major problem — I know this all too well — is that when you are feeling totally down about yourself and your body, you are not interested in being more slender and healthy next year or even next month, you want a total overhaul right NOW. Like a little kid trying to wait for next Christmas, we don’t WANT to have to wait! But an “I want it NOW” attitude may cause us to make choices out of desperation that will only make our weight problem much worse in the long run. I’m referring to things like “quick fix” diets, starvation, extremely low calorie intake, and other unhealthy, drastic measures. These tactics may produce temporary results on the scale, but they won’t produce permanent results — and will often result in losing muscle mass and then REGAINING even more fat.
The best way to lose excess weight is the HARD way — because it takes time! It also requires PATIENCE and making adjustments in habits and behavior. It requires making “baby steps” toward your goal. And it usually involves failures and setbacks too. But that’s how we learn and improve… and eventually succeed! Who we are today is the result of all the little choices we have made over the years. If we change the choices we make, we will slowly change who we become.
Be your own best supporter and remember that your weight is not YOU. You are so much more than what people see on the outside. You are a loving parent, spouse, friend, son or daughter — a beautiful person! But you also deserve to live in a body that is as healthy and strong as it can be. You will be free to enjoy life more if your body is as healthy and fit as possible. Make that your goal — to be the best you can be. Give some time and attention to yourself and your body every day. You deserve it!
