Where to Put Your Faith

Where do you put your faith? Is it with all of the products, plans, supplements, protein powders, energy bars and shakes?

Do you feel sometimes like you are abusing yourself each time you go on the new diet craze? Do you know you will likely fail and beat yourself up later for it, but you do it anyway?

Ok let's face it, today more than ever before we are inundated with so many different products claiming to help us lose weight. Day after day, year after year, I'm sure you've tried many that are advertised, as well as some that aren't. If you are like me, you have probably gone to the extreme to find that perfect formula, powder, or pill that will take care of the weight issues you are facing. After all, with all of the products offered, surely there has to be something that out there that works. You probably feel that you just haven't found it yet, right? Or do you think that they all work, but they're just not working for you? Where can you place your faith and hope when it comes weight-loss products and plans? Where can you put your trust and hope, knowing that what you use or do will work?

You should start by putting your faith, your trust, and all hope in the abilities that you have to succeed with your weight loss! YOU are ultimately the one that has the ability that can build the determination, the confidence, and the motivation that will allow you to take the actions that will bring you to your goals. It may sound simple, and it is. The reason why weight loss plans and programs fail, is not because of you, but because these products offer you something not realistic. They lure you into putting all of your hopes and dreams into their product, make you believe you won't need anything else, and you will live happily ever after. Well, don't be sold anymore. Be sold on yourself! You ultimately are responsible for your success. Don't put all your hopes into any fad "miracle" diet product. Put the responsibility on yourself and you will soon find that your actions will take off the weight faster than any so called weight-loss product could. Here is an outline of how to start putting the responsibility on you, and no longer leaving it up to anyone or anything else to get you where you want to go!

First, start by putting faith in yourself! You must believe in yourself and your abilities. Forget what you did in the past that didn't work or that you might have seen as a failure. It was a learning experience, and you have grown from it. I will tell you a story related to faith about someone I know very well. This gentleman was in college and his grades were so poor that he could barely continue. He had to drop classes that he was failing or it would mean academic probation and potentially an invitation to leave school. After almost two years of carrying slightly above a D average, he decided to leave one college for a smaller one. Something told him that there was no reason why he couldn't be a straight A student. He completely believed that he was capable of getting A's. No ifs, ands, or buts about it! For the next two years, he carried an A- average, went on to Chiropractic school, became President of his class, and ranked second in academics. I think this is a great example of forgetting about what you did in the past and believing in yourself and what you can do today! Remember, a successful person gets up one more time than he or she fails. That means believing in you enough that any failure is looked at as just a learning experience on the way to success. A wise man once said, "If your mind can see it, and your heart can believe it, then you will achieve it! Believe it, it's true!

Next, take RESPONSIBILITY for where you are and where you are going! If you take charge of where you are and believe in yourself, then you must take full responsibility for who you are today, as well as who you are becoming. It's easy to place blame for our situation and extra weight. I know I blamed my ex-husband for my extra weight. I thought that if he would just do this or love me more, then I would be happy and I would want to lose weight and look better. I placed blame when I needed to take responsibility for who I was and who I was becoming. And I was becoming heavier and heavier as the days went on. When he left for good, there was no longer anyone to blame, so I had to take responsibility for my actions. And although I may have tried many diets, I learned along the way that ultimately it was going to have to be faith in myself, and my responsibility that will get me where I want to go!

Finally, focus on the future! The time for feeling sorry for yourself is over. Those days are gone. They can't be changed, and instead can be used as learning experiences. If you dwell on what was or what is, then your thoughts are being deprived of planning for the future. Everyone has difficulties in their lives when it comes to reaching goals. Your difficulties are nothing new- maybe in a different form or shape, but not unfamiliar to those who have already gone through it. Just think that you are embarking on a path that many have gone through and completed. Although this may be new terrain to you, it is not new terrain in general. Stay focused on what's ahead of you, whether it be it in the next hour, for the next meal, the next day, and even the rest of the week. You will begin to see a life ahead of you that is so wonderful, as opposed the any part of your past that you may not be happy with. Remember, "No matter how tarnished your past, your future is spotless!"

To review:
1. Put complete FAITH and belief in yourself and your abilities! Don't put your hope it anything or anyone else to create your happiness and success.
2. Take full RESPONSIBILITY for where you are now, and where you are going! Ultimately, it is you who takes the right actions and makes the right decisions!
3. Keep your FOCUS toward the future. Focus on what you need to get done this hour, this day, and this week. Once this hour is gone, leave it behind you, and focus on what's ahead!

Support is great for motivation, inspiration, and education, but YOU are the one that creates your success. I wish you success in your efforts!

Additionally, I recommend these simple changes for you to incorporate in your journey:

• Start by developing one good habit at a time - don't overwhelm yourself!
• Carry a bottle of water with you at all times - and drink from it often!
• Pack a healthy, nutritious lunch and bring it with you to work, ridding yourself of "what to eat for lunch?"
• Take PGX, it makes this journey easier to stay on track!
• Write down what you want to achieve in your life, and review this list everyday.
• Every time you want to watch TV, do something healthy instead or simultaneously.
• If you have children, play a game with them at least twice a week!
• Get some form of exercise such as walking, lifting, and even stretching. If you already workout, try adding 5 minutes a day to your current exercise routine
• Smile! Do something nice for someone for no reason.
• Wake up each day knowing you are improving upon yesterday. Life gets better each day!
• Love yourself for making the decision to live well.