You want to be fit. You know how much you should weigh. You know your ideal size. You can even picture how more energy you will have, and better able to move.

So why aren’t you living life in your ideal body?

Many reasons that make achieving your personal best a challenge, reasons that go deeper than merely calories-in versus calories-out.

I’m talking about the life issues that get in the way of your success.

Read the following 5 obstacles and the solutions to unlock your best body ever.

1. You don’t want to be bothered.

It’s in your DNA to avoid pain and seek out pleasure. Unfortunately, this works against you when trying to get in better shape. In your mind, it’s painful (or at least uncomfortable) to deny yourself the tasty food that you crave and to exert yourself with exercise.

There’s a simple way to work around this obstacle: Find something painful about being out of shape to motivate yourself towards healthy eating and exercise. Focus on the negative impact your current weight has on your health, self-esteem, and lifestyle. Convince yourself that the pain of being out of shape is much higher than the discomfort of doing what it takes to become a healthier you.

2. You don’t want to wait for the good stuff.

Just as you wish to avoid pain, you are also an expert in seeking out pleasure—namely food. Constantly seeking food served the cavemen well, but these days it ends up as extra pounds on your body.

There’s good news: extra calories are not your only option to stimulate the pleasure center of your brain. Find an activity or two that make you smile and indulge in those regularly.

➢ A walk outside
➢ A good book
➢ A night out to the movies or theater
➢ A spa day (-the wine) 😉

You can also retrain your brain to crave the pleasure of exercise-induced endorphins. Talk about weight gain kryptonite!

3. You are crazy busy.

Let’s face it, you work too much, commit yourself to too much and don’t even get enough sleep most of the time. The fast-paced way you live leaves you exhausted, stressed and hungry for comfort food. You also begin to feel too busy to take care of your health.

It’s time to reprioritize. Let go of your perfectionist standards and remove a few commitments from your schedule so that you can cook healthy meals, exercise and get a good night’s sleep. Remind yourself that taking care of your health is not a luxury—it’s a necessity.

4. You don’t deserve it.

I don’t agree with it, but you sure act like you don’t deserve to live the good life in your personal best body ever. Take a moment to think back on all the times you have self-sabotaged your weight loss efforts. If you don’t believe deep down that you are worthy, then you’ll never give yourself a chance at a more healthy YOU.

I believe that you deserve to have a healthy body—and I urge you to dig deep down to uncover why you don’t. Once you conquer your feelings of unworthiness, getting on an exercise and healthy eating plan will be easy.

Take the time to take care of yourself. You DO deserve it.

5. You are afraid.

You’re afraid to start because you might fail, and wouldn’t that be embarrassing? You’re also fearful to start because you might succeed, and change makes you uncomfortable – even if it’s changing in the right direction.

When you decide to get healthier you will need to go through a bushel of changes:

➢ New diet
➢ New exercise routine
➢ New friends at the gym
➢ New clothes
➢ New self-image

Focus on all of the ways that losing weight will make your life better. Envision that better life every day so that it goes from being new and scary to familiar and comfortable.

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As I reflect on a passage in one of my daily readers today, I pause to consider the ways I can still tend to practice insanity. A favorite quote of mine regarding insanity is,

“Doing the exact same thing over and over again expecting different results”

I call this my default position; often forgetting … if nothing changes, nothing changes.

I work as hard as anyone I know toward balance in my life. I still think I can engage in certain attitudes and actions and somehow stay sane.

Even as I work to restore a balance of body, mind, and spirit, I can find myself engaging in any one or more of the following: petty resentments, jealousy, isolation, unrealistic expectations of others, arrogance, fear … and even thoughts of revenge.

I ask myself is this insanity? No, not really …

… it’s more the thought that hanging on to any one of these attitudes will somehow improve my life. This has not worked in the past and it won’t work today. My insanity is my distorted thinking!

Solutions

I have learned in my spiritual program for recovery that there is a solution to my insanity. If I don’t believe I’m worthy, there are things I can turn to that will bring me out of isolation and distorted thinking. I can …

• Go to a recovery meeting, one of numerous church activities available, attend a networking meeting, cycle with friends, or anything healthy that’s gets me out myself.
• Call a trusted other, be vulnerable and honest by sharing what I know doesn’t work for me. A trusted other who listens without pity or advice, someone who can relate and just give me the space to jabber out loud.
• Do the next right thing, eat something healthy if I’m hungry, journal if I’m angry, call someone if I’m lonely, and rest, really rest, if I’m tired.

No Regrets and Choices

When I do the things that are right for me to do, I have no regrets. I’ve lived this day the best I can and I feel better about myself. I feel the power of a God who is there for me and I trust once again, able to choose sanity, faith, and healing paths for my life.

I can stop waiting for sanity to pop out of nowhere or think it will just descend on me from above. Also, I can participate in creating sanity by choosing healthier attitudes and behaviors. One moment, one action, one new behavior at a time.

As I learn to rely on this Higher Power, realizing my part is in the choices I make; my life is gradually restored to sanity.

Even the simple things we choose each day can have an accumulative compound effect on our long-term health, what to eat, how to exercise, when to get started.

I would like to help and be with you in your healthy lifestyle solutions. This keeps me sane as well.

Let’s talk soon, Lisa.