Commitment

A lot of people struggle with committing to a weight loss and healthy eating plan because they expect to see instant results.  My theory is that they're so used to the instant gratification from comfort eating & then an unhealthy body & low body satisfaction in the long run that they can't stay focused long enough for a diet & exercise plan to actually work.

When you're comfort eating, a piece of cake really does fill that emptiness if only for a few minutes, but that feeling won't last long. Avoiding that cake, engaging in exercise & choosing a healthy meal results in a much longer sense of happiness, fulfillment & body satisfaction.

The body you want isn't one run & one healthy meal away. It may take months or even years to finally get to where you want to be.  I remember when I first started running after my Senior year, I felt like I was putting myself through torture for nothing. When I wanted to just say "fuck it" & go back inside, I'd remind myself that even if for some reason I didn't lose any weight, I was still doing something incredible for my body on the inside. I always felt so happy, pure & fulfilled after a run & I knew I was doing my cardiovascular system a favor.  In the end, I actually dropped all the weight I wanted to.

Losing weight & changing your eating habits is a very long term commitment. It's a change in your lifestyle & if you want to really see a difference, it isn't just about taking the stairs instead of the elevator or ordering a small cappuccino instead of a large. These little things absolutely do help make a change, but you have to commit to more. When put in perspective, exercise & eating healthily isn't that big of a deal, but when you're on the front line of the battle with weight loss, it feels like you're having to change the person you actually are. But in the long run, you'll find that underneath that weight you hate is a happier, fuller, brighter person, anyway.