Is Relapse Necessary For Permanent Change?

In most cases, I believe it is.Relapse; to slip back in to a former state. Whether it's a BIG slip or a small one, we've all experienced relapse. It doesn't feel good. If you're reading this right now and you've slipped BIG, you feel miserable. Shame, guilt and discouragement are just a few of the words to describe how you're feeling. Your clothes don't fit, you're fighting the urge to buy new ones in bigger sizes and you're not looking forward to the most "wonderful time of the year." Relapse is ugly.

I have spent the last 30 years helping people change and I've learned a thing or two. Firstly...we need each other! Relapse happens when we try to go it alone. As hard as this weight loss journey is, we somehow think we should be able to do it by our selves!

Secondly, we believe that if we've relapsed, we're bad. We're not bad...we're human! CHANGE IS HARD and relapse happens.

So what now? "Maybe a different program would help?" "Maybe I'll try that packaged food that you order on line.(then I can lose my weight in the privacy of my own home and no one has to know.)" "I'll just get back on program...I have the "diet," I know what to do!" What now? You can try another option, you could even have temporary success. But I believe that the love and support you receive from The Healthy Weigh is just what you need. We understand relapse and we don't judge it, we just support you.Relapse happens because beliefs systems have not been changed. I am convinced that the education and the community support that is offered at The Healthy Weigh is unparalleled and is the answer to changing your beliefs and keeping your weight off for life.

If you are currently an active client at The Healthy Weigh...stay the course, keep investing in your health and your future. If you have slipped away, we'd love to see you again. Come on home!

I'd love to hear from some of you that are feeling discouraged right about now. I invite to write me privately at letha@healthyweigh.com . Whether you're on the program now, or haven't seen me for some time, I look forward to hearing from you.

Always encouraging you.

Letha

Are You Working The Program?

For the last nine weeks we have been looking at ways to keep motivation alive and well. Motivation is at the center of all change. It's the motive that causes us to act. In finishing up this 10 week "series" on motivation, I just went back through and read that last 9 blogs to get a feel for how I wanted to end this 10 weeks!

I'll tell you how I'm going to end this thing. I'm going to ask the big question. ARE YOU WORKING THE PROGRAM? I didn't ask, are you following the diet? or Are you losing weight? or Are you trying new recipes? I asked, ARE YOU WORKING THE PROGRAM?

I can guarantee that if you were taking out the tools that have been handed to you in the last nine weeks, seeking to understand them on a different level, and then working them week after week as you built on the week before...YOU WOULD BE MOTIVATED! and motivation changes things!

Motivation is not a secret. Motivation is not reserved for the people who were just born that way. Motivation doesn't just happen. And you surely can't count on someone else to supply it for you.

Motivation is your responsibility.

I've never seen a person fail at losing weight because they didn't know what to eat. I've never seen a person fail to keep weight off because the needed a new recipe. They key to losing your weight, reaching your goal and keeping it off for life is motivation!

So what's keeping you from it?

I want to encourage you to read back through the last 9 weeks, one week at a time if necessary and work the program. Do the work that it takes to keep motivation alive! You'll find that mastering motivation won't just get you to your goal weight, but it will effect every area of your life!

Your tool box is full. Choose to use the tools that will help you change your life! They are there for the taking!

Always encouraging you,

Letha

"It's in the Doing"

Motivation is at the heart of all success. The word motivation comes from the word motive…think about that. Motivation is at the heart of all success…motives come from the heart! Motivation comes from within you!
Here’s the beautiful part…You have control over how motivated you are!
If you were to ask yourself right now, “On a scale of 1 to 10 how motivated am I regarding my weight loss and my following my NP?” What would your answer be?
You’re not alone if your motivation wavers…you’re not alone if you’ve said, “This is hard.” “I don’t know if I can do this.” “I don’t know why I’m doing this.” “I don’t want to do this anymore.” “I’m not motivated.”
Those are normal thoughts.

But remember…..
Your thoughts dictate your feelings and your feelings dictate your actions.
If you are thinking those thoughts, If you are saying those words…I want to let you know that the odds are against you...you might not get to the finish line.
How motivated do you feel right now?

Words are powerful, thoughts are as powerful!
The truth is this. Making the choice to be disciplined with your eating and exercise, setting limits on yourself and learning to say no thank you, is less than fun, less than exciting, less than happy…but the benefits are all of that and more!!!

Motivation is all about the benefits…all about our thought life… all about what we focus on!
So it’s up to you to keep motivation alive. Motivation starts with a thought. A thought that says, if I want to be successful, if I want to cross the finish line and then keep my weight off, I need motivation and I need it now! I will choose a thought pattern that keeps me focused on where I’m going, what I’m getting, and what life will be like when I get there! Let's look at the 9th tool in this tool box.

#9 Motivation is in the doing

Doing something to keep your thought life right, strong, focused.
I'll share some of my tools, my secrets to keeping my motivation alive:

Clothing: What would you be wearing if you were at goal weight…That’s what you focus on!
Hang it out…hang it in the pantry if you need to!
Do you have clothes in your closet that still have the tags on them? Did you buy it a little small and then never get in to it?
Swim suit summer is coming…where will you be?
Little black dress next Christmas…Do you want to wear a little black dress this year?

Year at a Glance Calendar:
What events will take on a different feeling a different excitement a different freedom at your goal weight?

Affirmation Cards:
What affirmations does your mind need to hear...what lies are you listening to...what truths need to replace those lies?

Words:
They are powerful...place them in strategic places in your home, work, car!

What motivates you…sporting equipment?
How would you be playing if you were at goal weight. That’s what you focus on!

Collages:
What would your life represent if you were at goal weight ? How would your life improve?

Motivation is in the doing…it’s taking a naturally negative, discouraged, unbelieving attitude and turning it around.
Motivation is about walking away from spending your time and energy thinking about food, thinking about what you don’t get to eat today, and thinking about a life free from being burdened down with extra pounds.
How much time are you spending thinking about what you can’t eat…VS. where you’re going?
Let’s turn our homes, our cars, our workplaces into places of renewed motivation…reminders of where you’re going, why it matters, how our life will improve.

That’s "doing" motivation!

Every place you go…you should be inspired and provoked to climb this mountain, to run run this race, to accomplish this task…you’re just the one that has to create it!

Motivation is in the doing...do some this weekend!

Always encouraging you,
Letha