My Own 600-Pound Life

If you come to think about weight loss, I would imagine around 97% of people don't have a physical problem with losing weight loss.  What I mean is that most of us can actually lose weight if we stick to a reasonable diet that is less than what we are currently consuming.  If it is possible to lose weight without the assistance of surgery, diet pills or something along those lines, why do, according to the American Obesity Association, 95% of people fail at diets?

I believe it all comes down to attitude.  Like Tweety to the left, we sometimes have bad attitudes about weight loss.  Most of us who are overweight are there because we like food.  I realize that some are overweight because of a physical limitation, but most of us are here simply because we like food.  When we think about dieting, we think of it as our enemy.  Even a lot of "diets" have started to call it a "lifestyle change."  While they are correct that the new eating habits are a lifestyle change, it's still a diet.  Let's face it, folks - after I get to my goal weight and can gauge how much food I'm supposed to be eating to maintain a healthy weight, I'm not going to be counting my Points any more.

So what if we just try to change our attitude a little?  What if we said, you know, this is an OK thing to be doing - this diet.  Also, we need to change our attitude at the scale.  You see, with me having to lose approximately 400 pounds, little losses for me right now don't make me very happy.  After coming off a week of a 15 pound loss and then a 6.6 pound loss, I only lost 3.2 this past week despite being "perfect" on program.  That simply was a bad attitude.  I lost 3.2 pounds.  I know some people who wished they could lose 3.2 pounds in a week!  Besides that, even at 3.2 pounds, it would only take slightly over 2 years to lose the weight when I've gained the weight over a couse of 29 years!

So, as you are on your diet or lifestyle change, try and remember that it's all about attitude.  Don't succumb to the bad thoughts and attitudes that tell you this is horrible or that you aren't losing enough.  You are doing this to get healthy and there are changes that are occuring every day in your body as you follow a healthier diet.  Be proud of what you have done and move forward with your head held high!