Determined To Succeed

Yesterday, I received a powerful e-mail from a new visitor to the website, Steve, who found it thanks to the wonderful article on yours truly from Monday’s Philadelphia Inquirer and Philly.com. What made his letter powerful is that he’s in the same boat now that I was in back in 2005 when I weighed over 400 lbs. After writing back to Steve I got to thinking about my own past and started looking at older pictures of the “before” me. I don’t know why, I just did.

Wow. That’s all I have to say. I took a long hard look at those photos and video and saw a guy who was really freaking unhappy. I let so many pounds accumulate that, when I watched me, I felt like I was still there but under a fat suit made up of food and some pretty strong emotions. It was hard to watch but a good way to not only remember how far I’ve come but a powerful motivator for me not ever going back again.

Steve and I really are in the same boat and I know exactly how he feels, as we all do struggling with weight and food.  It does do a mind job on you. But first and foremost all of us have to stop beating ourselves up and let it go. Whatever weight you are today is your starting weight. That is where you’ll begin and that’s what you need to focus on.

Bad food habits are hard to unlearn. Believe me when I tell you that. They really are. Like you guys I looooooooove great foods and loooooooooove eating them even more. BUT THERE COMES A TIME YOU SIMPLY MUST MAKE A CHOICE: DO YOU WANT TO BE THINNER OR KEEP EATING AS MUCH AS YOU DO? You must cut down on the amount of food you eat. I have lost weight just cutting back on the amount of foods I eat and exercising. I never (repeat NEVER) cut out completely eating the foods I love. You must also learn to love yourself more than food. You MUST love yourself everyday at a 10.

Most of all, my friends, you must be ready to do something you’ve never done before. Put yourself first, forgive yourself and love yourself. You will find I am just like you guys going through the same food temptations every single day. But every single day I, too, make the conscious choices to NOT have certain things – like too many Cokes, or too much Chinese food, so I can again see my goal weight realized.

Even though this week is flying by you remember you can start any day you wish. It doesn’t have to be a Monday, or the first of the month. You just need to do it.  We are in this together, whether it is with weight loss or maintenance. And I will always be here to lend an ear and whatever advice I can.

And as I told my new friend, Steve, have a wonderful day and make DAY ONE of the new you a great and special one.

Cheers!

Bill