Get back on that horse dammit!

This seems to be the time of year that some of us give up on our resolutions from the New Year. In January we are excited and determined to make changes for the better. Yet it seems like once the newness and luster of our new lifestyles have worn off it becomes harder to keep ourselves motivated. I have seen too many of the women who inspired me to get started making these changes falling off their wagons in recent weeks. It starts with a small cheat, and then an excuse inevitably follows. The Devil works his evil magic and she figures since she already screwed up her plan she might as well get some cravings out of her system before she re-starts. She orders the Shamrock shake and cheeseburger. She enjoys it like Yogi Bear enjoys a good picnic basket.

Then the excuses come faster and easier. I haven't been grocery shopping, I’ll re-start after my cousin’s wedding 2 weeks from now, I've been sick with the flu and still don’t feel completely recovered. Before she knows it a whole month will have passed of unhealthy binge eating. She actually eats worse than she did before she started to try losing weight because each time she encounters a temptation, she gives in this time. She figures she’ll l start her diet tomorrow so it’s okay. I know how it goes because I’ve done it myself so many times. Now through the blogosphere I have born witness to this sad sequence of events happening in so many other ladies' lives. What once was a private struggle with our own inner demons is now laid bare for all to see.

I admit I was getting tired of working so hard. I was feeling resentful of skinny people who seem to be able to eat the things I love without any repercussions. I tasted my husband’s Shamrock shake and I confess it was VERY difficult not to down the whole thing in momentary fit of hedonistic ecstasy. The thoughts raced through my mind “I deserve a break; I’ve been doing so well. One cheat won’t destroy my diet. If I plan it right I can make up for this later.” Then something amazing happened. I reflected on what I have done so far and how much further I have yet to go and decided that IT JUST WASN’T WORTH IT.

So stay strong and fight the inner demons that will sabotage your efforts. You are not helpless in this. You can do it. It’s not too hard. Live in the moment. This moment, right now, is all that you can control. You can control what you eat right now. You can control if you get your body moving right now. You can get back on track RIGHT NOW. As Nike once said- Just do it. Don’t allow yourself to make excuses. Give yourself the tough love you need. You are so totally worth it.