Here are mine: 1. I am in control of myself and my choices. (This is my favorite advantage- I hate the angst that goes with mindless and uncontrolled bites.)
2. I am assertive in order to take good care of myself. (This is also a favorite and it gets me moving. When I am not assertive, I bag on exercise a lot and I give in to off plan food.)
3. I fit into size 6/8 with plenty of room. No squishing myself in!
1. Better health and less anxiety about health issues goe hand-in-hand. Eating healthier and exercising regularly have allowed me to improve several health problems (such as high cholesterol) and have much less anxiety on the whole about my health (when you get over 50, it seems things start "breaking" more frequently! LOL).
2. A healthier relationship with food and eating (mentally/emotionally). I certainly can't say that I have a completely healthy relationship with food but, after 4 years of eating healthy, I certainly have a much healthier relationship than I did. Losing weight is as much about your thinking as it is about your eating or exercising--perhaps more, in fact--and I have been able to get rid of a lot of "stinkin' thinkin'" about food, eating and "dieting."
3. Feeling better about myself. Now that I am participating more actively in my own health care by using healthy eating and exercise as both curative and preventative measures for existing and possible future health issues, I feel better about myself and also feel better about how I look.
Personal Healthy Habits Challenge - 10/1 to 12/31/08: 1. Exercise: Get back to consistently working out 3-5 X week. 2. Food: Get back to consistently preparing healthy lunches for the week with increased veg servings. 3. Behavior: Reduce intake of sweets.
Posts: 7277 | Location: Rehoboth Beach, DE | Registered: March 12, 2004
Before, I would have said something to do with vanity. Now, I'm beginning to say vanity AND health.
Top 3 advantages: 1) Fitting into clothes and looking nicer, feeling less self-conscious about my size. 2) Knowing I may have lowered my risk of cancer, heart disease, diabetes etc. 3) Overall physical well-being.
****************** “The older you get, the tougher it is to lose weight because by then, your body and your fat are really good friends.”
1. feeling in control and balanced 2. feeling great about fitting into my clothing and being an example to loved ones and clients. 3. not having eating be as large of an issue as it has in the past, so i can free up my life for other blessings.
Goals: 1. Stop thinking like a chronic dieter and start living to inspire. 2. HALT (hungry, anxious, lonely, tired) I will stop and tune in with myself should I experience these things, and respond with something healthy. 3. One word 2008: courage 4. Eat slow and mindfully.
1. Living the kind of active, healthy life I want to lead
2. Setting a good example for my son, so that he does not have to grapple with weight issues
3. Looking good -- and looking younger than I am. Sure, this is primarily a vanity issue, but I've noticed that when I look good and feel good, so many other things work well in my life.
1. Lowering my risk of cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. This is my top choice. I don't want cancer again, I don't want to be on multiple medications for high blood pressure and cardiac ailments like my mother, and I don't want a doctor telling me when I'm 65 that I'm crossing over into diabetes like my father.
2. Feeling better about my body. That covers a lot, but includes not feeling like people are staring at me, not being embarrassed around the boyfriend, wearing things for the purpose of accentuating something instead of for the purpose of hiding something, and moving around more.
3. Accomplishing something big (and difficult!). I'm an overachiever. I accept that. I want to succeed at weight loss as much as I've succeeded in other arenas.
I've come to the conclusion that for me, those reasons work. I don't know that I buy the "you have to do it for yourself" theory any more. Whatever reason it's for--if it motivates and inspires you, then it's a good reason. And, yeah--clothes in the BCBG Max Azria store window inspire me. And don't get sold in over a 12 very often.
Challenge Goals: *10 minutes of unplanned exercise five times a week *Gym time twice a week *Socialize at least once every two weeks.
