Are you scared?

Let me ask you, are you scared? Yes? Good! No? WHY NOT? I’ll be honest with you, I am very scared. But, the difference between what I do with my fear now, and what I did with it nine months ago, is what I want to focus on. I live a life full of anxiety, and everyday presents a new fear or ridiculous phobia. For a long time I let this rule me, but not any more.

Nine months ago, I was afraid of failing, of not being able to accomplish what I wanted to do, of getting hurt, or looking like a fool. I was afraid that I would have a heart attack, or injure myself, or that I just wouldn’t be able to do it. I would let my fear stop me from even starting. Why do we do this? I’m here to tell you to throw those fears out the window, or stomp on them like your doing the Mexican hat dance. They are crippling and useless. Easier said then done right?  Wrong.

I did this, and guess what? I got hurt, and then I healed. I looked like a fool, but I wasn’t alone. I was able to do it, and I still can. I only get better. A little advice, take it one day at a time. You can’t fail on a large scale if each day is a new goal. I take one day at a time, and I set a goal for each day. No sugar today, BOOM! No overeating today, BAM! Portion control, POW! Target calories, ZAP! Yeah I know, I sound like a old episode of Batman, but you get the idea. Make each day a new day. By focusing on the present day, and not the day before, you can become more confident in your ability to do this. You’ll have a bad day, and slip, but that’s okay, because the next day you’re going to tackle each challenge like it’s nothing.

This is a marathon, not a sprint.

You know what my fear used to be and how I over came it, so let me tell you how my fear has become my fuel. Now my fear is disappointing myself, setting a bad example for my family, going back to where I started, living a life that is less than enjoyable. These things are what I think about when I ‘m struggling, or want to give up. Sometimes, I get frustrated because I’m not where I want to be yet. I use my fears to remind me that I don’t want to go back.  It will take time, and my results will not be over night.

I talked about it before, but some of you may not have read my blog from the very beginning, so I’ll share again. What started me on my journey was a few things. I had been trying to get pregnant for four years and had been told to give up because it wouldn’t happen, and my son at five years old already had high cholesterol and was obese. I was OBESE. I hated that word, more than you can ever imagine. OBESE, OBESE, OBESE! Yes, I’m repeating it. It helps to remind me of how far I have come. I was killing myself and my child with food. I didn’t want to diet and I didn’t want to feel deprived. Guess what? I don’t, I don’t diet and I don’t feel like I am depriving myself. I treat myself on cheat days and I just make healthier choices.

It’s not a diet, but a lifestyle.

When people ask me what diet I’m on I tell them “THE I DON’T WANT TO GO BACK THERE DIET.” Did you know there is a diet called that? HAHA, yes there is. It’s called a change of diet, meaning it’s a permanent thing, a lifestyle. I can’t sell you on it if you don’t want it. Look back at what has brought you to where you are, do you want to go back there? If you haven’t started to change  your life, why not? You have to stop the excuses, and stop doubting yourself, change your mindset, and surprise yourself with how amazing you are. You can do it! Tell yourself that everyday. You are strong. How bad do you want it? If you’re not ready to commit to the change, then you just don’t want it bad enough. Picture a starving cheetah, has very little energy left, just enough for one catch. If that cheetah doesn’t catch it’s prey, it’s very well dead. Be the cheetah, your mouth watering, your heart pounding, you want it so bad you can taste it. You WILL get your prey. Now commit or go back to where you started/are, you are the only one that can make that choice.

So how do you choose?