After having lost about a third of myself, people want to know what magic pill or secret I discovered to losing and keeping off the unwanted years of unwanted weight gain while restoring my body to full physical health. If I could bottle that answer, my bank account would thank me. But my answer is simple: Faith. Years of trying everything else – from mail order to membership required weight loss programs – led me away from the man made answers to the God given truth: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. If “faith” has taught me anything it’s taught me that it is in direct contrast with the world’s perspective on how we accomplish doing anything. From a world-view it seems simple enough that if we stop doing the wrong things in exchange for doing the right things, change will occur. While that is true, it isn’t sustaining. What do you do once the “thrill” (accomplishment of reaching your goal) is gone? What sustains you to want to continue your journey once you’ve crossed the finish line? What becomes your source of strength when you’re pursuing your next victorious moment is what keeps you wanting more. A diet doesn’t do it. A number on the scale can’t provide it. And a better looking/feeling body won’t sustain it. Think of how many people go through reaching those same “goals” to only regain, return and re-lose their battle against the bulge? I don’t think there’s a concrete number but in my estimate, based upon those who I’ve counseled and observed, I’d have to say it’s around 96%.
The “why” behind weight gain after weight loss can be a varied and complex issue for most of us who’ve ever experienced that swinging pendulum. At first, we blame our failure on ourselves, followed quickly with the “that-didn’t-work-for-me” explanation (and it may not have). Next, we blame it on our out of control lives, busy schedules and daily demands (each or all of which may be at the root of the problem, as well). Finally, we throw our hands-up as we dig for more excuses (from our age to our genetics) trying to identify the culprit behind our dilemma (subliminally knowing that some have an undeniable impact on us but don’t have to completely define who we can become). Once we start tail spinning toward our past we feel our grip losing control of what we thought we had conquered and overcame, returning unwittingly to our former self. Defeated, depressed and dismayed we sink back into what we think has a greater control over us than what it really does. “Now what do I do?” we whisper inside our soul, almost more embarrassed by our seeming defeat against our battle with the bulge than we were elated by our former victory over it.
Here are three simple things you can do that I did and that continue to sustain me to this day:
Prayer – Whatever foundation you lay in your life is the one that will undergird you when the day comes for your “foundation” to be tested. As a professional master designer, I’ve come to value the purpose of laying a strong foundation in everything I do or build. Faith has everything to do with what supports you (beyond yourself) when the day comes for you to be tested, tempted and tried. Without it, you’re relying on the foundation someone else used to build their foundation. Prayer is a simple process of connecting my will to God’s will for my life. Prayer allows me to pour my heart out, confess what I cannot control and ask for God’s help without the fear of judgment, condemnation or prejudice. Prayer opens my mind to hear from God while gaining greater wisdom than what the world has to offer. Prayer produces God’s answer. You will know if your answer is from God when it passes each three of these tests: Did it work? Did it sustain itself over time? Did it produce new life in me? If the answer is “yes, yes and yes” then it’s more than likely from God.
Practice – Years ago I coached young children in baseball and basketball. The first thing I underscored and that they had to do to “play” was practice, on and off the field. Amazingly, I had about 100% attendance at every practice I held. Why? Because of one simple principle: I made practice enjoyable for the kids and their parents. When you enjoy what you’re doing you do it. If your diet, your exercise and your daily regiment isn’t enjoyable it won’t be sustainable. Ask yourself this question: Do I “love” what I get the privilege of doing, every single day? Or do I cringe at the thought of my routine, diet and daily regiment? The correct answers should be “yes” and “no”. If those two responses are in reverse (no and yes) then something is out of sync.
Perseverance – The Eagles wrote a great song many years ago entitled “After the thrill is gone”. Once the “thrill” is over there has to be a greater purpose guiding your journey. For me it’s my faith. I’m a goal setter by nature, so setting and reaching a goal isn’t very difficult for me. But I do get bored easily…..and that is usually my greater foe to overcome. Are you bored with what you’ve accomplished? Have you stopped challenging yourself to reach new goals, setting up new opportunities for your life’s journey to continuously expand? Any relationship we invest in - whether it’s with ourselves or somebody else - requires constant work. It’s when we stop working and persevering through the hard times that we fail.
Prayer, practice and perseverance each run hand-in-hand with one another. If you let go of one, you’ll lose your grip on the others.
Quick Tips for Wellness: The foundation you build from determines the strength that sustains you later on.
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