Starling Fitness: Daily writings on Fitness, Diet, and Health

Why do people gain the weight back? Part of the reason is that they blame so many things on their weight that really have nothing to do with it. They finally get to goal and their life still sucks, so they give up on their health.

The best advice Seventeen Magazine ever gave me was “Fake It Until You Make It.” It told me to think about how I would be like if I was thin instead of fat and act that way now. Do all the things that I would do if I was at my goal weight. They urged me not to put my life on hold until I lose the weight. It was good advice because it took me over twenty years to finally get to a healthy weight. My entire life would have been on hold if I hadn’t taken their advice.

Think about what life will be like for you when you get to goal. Will you be more confident and outgoing? Then work on those skills right now. Stand up straight and look people in the eye. Introduce yourself. You’re a great person who is worth getting to know. Give people the opportunity.

Will you be more secure and happy with your life? Then act like that right now. Breathe deeply in the knowledge that you have a wonderful life. Act as if you are safe and protected. Enjoy all the little things that DID go right with your day. Enjoy the blessings that you have right now.

Get a clear image of how you imagine life to be when you are at your goal weight and work on creating that in your life right now. Then you’ll be able to avoid re-gaining after you finally do get to your goal weight. By then, your life will really be as good as you imagined it to be.

PostSecret‘s beneficiary is the National Hopeline Network. It is a 24-hour hotline (1 (800) SUICIDE) for anyone who is thinking about suicide or knows someone who is considering it.