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That image above reminds me of the broken dreams of my self-determination. And these journal posts from seven years ago reveal the emotional ride of a lifestyle that led to disappointment and failure. I’m here to tell you there’s a better way!

As you read these posts, maybe you’ll recognize your ups and downs of dieting in my journey–the self-will and determination and then the failure and self-recrimination and then the effort to make the food obey and then the failure, etc. etc. etc.

Just remember: There’s a better way!

July 10, 2010

It’s not just about the weight.

It’s about…

• health
• feeling better
• feeling stronger
• feeling younger
• self-confidence
• victory over the demons or reasons I haven’t won
• self-discovery
• self-awareness
• digging into what the weight masks
• accomplishment

Today I say no to quick-fix, fast-loss diets.

Today I embrace the tough discipline of one day at a time, making choices meal by meal, snack by snack.

Being active every day, crossing the threshold of fatigue to move.

Getting up and brushing myself off quickly when I fall instead of wallowing in failure.

I say yes to the discipline of weight loss–not just for the loss but also for the gain of what I’ll learn and how I’ll grow through it.

I say yes to being able at the end of this journey to say, “That was the hardest thing I’ve ever done!”

Bring it on!

July 23, 2010

I had 13 days of straight activity–a streak–until yesterday.

I came home. Ate birthday cake. Then a birthday breakfast cinnamon roll. 12 points. I’m not sure why–other than it was there.

What was I feeling? What was I needing?

What was my plan?

In the hour I could’ve been preparing dinner–the chicken was marinating–I ate.

But it was there. And I ate.

I’m not sure why.

But it was there.

Perhaps the greatest insight to gain is to keep the wrong choice foods out of the house.

Here’s what I chose that was good.

I looked up the points–12 for both conservatively. That brought me to 22 so I didn’t eat dinner.

Then I ate Doritos later. Nacho cheese.

Ended at 30 points.

No activity.

So back to my commitment.

“Getting up and brushing myself off quickly when I fall instead of wallowing in failure.”

I’m changing my entire life–not dieting.

August 3, 2010

I’m off track.

I know what to do. Today I choose to do it.

Regardless of how I may not lose.

I choose today to reverse my actions.

I say yes to the struggle. Getting off and getting back is part of the “hardest thing I’ve ever done.”

It’s struggle.

It’s hard work.

I say yes to that.

November 20, 2010

I am deceived.

In looking back at weight records, what I find is the needle doesn’t move from year to year. And yet I obsess and “diet.”

But do I?

If I do the same thing, I get the same results, the saying goes.

Obviously, I’ve been doing the same, same, same thing with the same, same, same results–no loss.

How can I move the needle?

What did I do last year when I got 12 pounds lighter? (and then gained it back)

Does it even matter? Looking back isn’t the way.

When I am successful, I am on program and exercising a lot.

What I find is I don’t maintain those behaviors.

What if I did, though?

What if I made my goal one full month of daily consistency on program and exercise?

Without the two weeks a month I slide off the wagon.

What if I make my goal daily tracking, on program, and exercise daily (30 minutes at least)?

What have I got to lose?

Maybe I’ll actually find out.

Today

There’s a better way! I’m so excited to continue to share the discoveries God has given me that have led to freedom from this dieting roller coaster ride.