[James Newman]

Greg,

I think each person is different in respect to why we allow ourselves to remain sedentary, obese, making poor eating decisions - leading an unhealthy lifestyle. That being said, I do think that the underlying motivation is fairly simple. Everything we do is done to change the way we feel. Human motivation is such that we will do just about anything to avoid pain. We will also do whatever it takes to gain pleasure. If we are ever faced with two or more options that are painful, we will ALWAYS rationalize one to be less painful than the other and we WILL DO THAT ONE.

Consider this example: you have the choice of dying by bullet or by knife. Which do you choose? Many people would choose the bullet thinking it is quicker (ie less painful). However, were I to shoot you in the stomach it would take considerable amount of time for you to bleed out and a significant amount of pain. Likewise were I to stab you in the heart or cut your throat you could die quickly. See the point. The illustration is graphic but important in understanding how we make decisions. Bottom line, we will choose the one that we perceive to be less painful.

What does this all mean? Our associations with pleasure and pain are important to our diet and exercise because if we constantly link a massive amount of pain to performing exercise and eating right --- you guessed it. We will NOT succeed. However, if we can ask ourselves what we do enjoy about those things, if we can see and experience the benefits now - not later, if we can link MORE PAIN to NOT CHANGING these habits and more pleasure with CHANGING our Lifestyle, then we WILL SEE RESULTS.

The key lies within you. Deciding what matters most to you. Sure all options may seem difficult, painful, and a lot like drudgery at the beginning, but ask yourself this: If you continue on the course that you are on, what will you look like in 10 years? Will you even be alive? How do you feel? How do you walk? Do you waddle Greg? (an example Greg, I am acknowledging the loss of your leg here but I want others to read this as well) Or can you even walk anymore? What do your clothes look like? How do they fit? How are you breathing? Is it difficult? Are you smiling?? Are you happy? Is your life really what you thought it would be when you were cutting corners in previous years to save time, money, etc?

My hallucination is that is not. The picture is not pretty. But that was only at 10 years. Consider 15, 20, and so on assuming you live that long? It is easy to go through this process but the other half of the cycle is to do the same sort of visualization seeing yourself achieving your goals. What does the Greg who has reached his goals look and feel like in 10 years? How do you move? How do you sound? Is there a bit of vibrancy and passion in your life? Are you happy???

Greg, you get to paint the picture. Remember, everything you do is done to change the way YOU feel. Start associating good, positive things with the process of achieving your goals NOW and it will happen. You just have to MAKE IT.

The ONLY way you can really ever fail, Greg, is if you QUIT. Results may slow or be unexpected, but as long as you don't quit: two steps forward and one step back is still progress.

Newman