I find the mental side of weight loss to be very interesting. I know that when I was overweight, I was totally aware that I wasn't healthy and I should do something about it, but I really didn't do anything about it. Maybe I'd try to eat less for a few days, but I didn't have a good plan/program to adhere to. Some people don't need structure; I do.
What changed?
The big factor was dh's sister dying of brain cancer. But it was her death that spawned our quest; not her diagnosis 8 months earlier.
People have told me "you're so lucky" "I wish I had your will power" "you're so committed" But am I? I know it's not luck. If I were lucky, I'd be able to eat whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted and as much as I wanted. Will power? Not really. Same with commitment. It's kind of like being a parent. That baby depends on you to take care of it and if you don't, no one else will show up and do it for you (under normal circumstances). It's just what you have to do; like it or not (and some of those diapers & late night feedings are 'nots'.)
So how does one flip that switch to make things change? What suddenly makes it real and important?
My parents have tried just about everything out there -- Weight Watchers, Atkins, South Beach, Curves, who knows what else. They walk & she goes to Curves (don't most older women these days?) Yet, they aren't motivated to stick with it and become healthier. They rely on more variety, strength dosages of medicine and lament their increasing body mass and health issues (both are mid 60's). Shouldn't that be enough to make one change?
Ok, I'm just thinking out loud here. I guess if we could bottle the magic elixir that flips the mental switch, we'd be rich!
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