One of the most difficult challenges folks who have yo-yo dieted face is that horribly annoying inner voice that chants, you failed 6 times before to lose weight, why on earth do you think you can succeed now?
As someone who once possessed the personality and self-confidence of a stale graham cracker cookie, I can really relate to the Inner Voice Hell. It took me many many years of, well actually, doing nothing and enduring it until I was fed up, before I looked at myself and said,
“Okay self, you have a choice. Since the only person creating that annoying icky inner voice is you, you can proactive choose to EITHER:
- Endure it and feel lousy
- Tell it to shut the hell up!
What’s it going to be?”
The ability of people to delude themselves is utterly amazing, I think….right up there with the wonder of electro-magnetism or how Lewis and Clark survived the frozen BitterRoot Mountains back in the 1800s….or even how my kids know unerringly the exact moment in time when Mommy has finally relaxed in her hot bath (and then get an insane desire to pop in and start discoursing on school, Naruto and other life-changing events).
So. Who the hell ARE you to think you can succeed this time in losing weight…when it’s failed miserably before?
Well?
I think the difference only happens when you’re reached rock-bottom in your own personal evaluation of yourself….and then bravely decree, that’s IT! I WILL CHANGE! It can’t be a half-assed attempt; that’s almost always the culprit behind prior yoyo dieting tries. You really have to WANT IT and WANT IT BAD…to the extent you’re willing to pit yourself against your own personal weaknesses.
Personally, I think this is a great, wonderful and very humbling experience. When you give yourself permission to succeed, you start to uncover the boundaries of your own personal inner strength. Stay at it longer, and those boundaries start to expand and encompass more and more steadiness and self-confidence.
That by itself…helps contribute towards your personal success. It’s like a rolling stone that gathers force and drive…and never lets you give up until the goal has been attained.
Don’t you agree?
Barbara
ps – need some ideas about self-confidence? Check out: