Successful Weight Loss Starts Here

There is one real reason that our bodies gain and hold onto excess weight: we just eat more calories than we use up. ( Duh Kerry, we knew that!).

Keep reading, this isn't the first success strategy...trust me.

For example, if it takes your body 2,000 calories to get you through your day and you eat 2,500 you are naturally not going to loose weight. Doesn't matter if the calories are full of healthy goodies or just a bunch of junk food, calories are fuel. Think of the gas tank in your car, what would happen if you put in more gas than you needed? It'd spill over (stinky and dangerous). The car can't use more than it can hold at a given time, until it has used up what you put in there. Now the body is different because it can hold onto the excess fuel. The way it spills out is all over our bodies (not necessarily stinky but still dangerous).

So then why is so hard to loose weight (or really, why is it so hard to keep it off?!). Why do we eat excess calories? There are many reasons: Food tastes good! Our culture encourages overeating! Some of us have emotional issues surrounding food (count me in). Those of you who are like me and have been gaining and loosing weight forever, already know this. We can know what we know but end up doing the same thing over and over again. I think most people do...why else would antacids, diet pills and weight loss gimmicks be in such abundance?

I could write a whole book on this subject...why we eat for reasons other than sustenance but I want to share with you the first and most important step I took and continue to practice everyday to help me keep the excess weight off....

Never talk about yourself in a way you wouldn't want your child or best friend to talk about him/her self. HUH? What did you just say Kerry? What does that have to do with losing and maintaining a healthy weight!?!?! EVERYTHING! When I say to myself..."you have no discipline, you are a fat pig, you'll never get this right, why bother? You were born to be overweight....", I keep myself in that negative place. That place that keeps me going back to the same habits that fuel overeating.

So now think, what would you say and how would you feel if your best friend or child berated themselves like this? Would you say "Yes, Kerry you are a big fat pig, you have no self discipline, you should just give up". Of course not! You'd encourage, point out all the positives that I've accomplished, offer help. Hmmm...stew on this for a minute. If you stopped beating yourself up on a daily basis and starting encouraging yourself, would it be a game changer? YES! It's the first and most important step in permanent weight loss. It's where success begins.

How will you take this "light bulb moment" to heart? What will you say to yourself today to start this part of your journey? How will you plan to remind yourself of this tomorrow?

And above all, know that God wants you to love and care for yourself. He made you with a plan, with purpose: Psalms 138:5 "Behold, O Lord, thou hast known all things, the last and those of old: thou hast formed me, and hast laid thy hand upon me". Embrace this love from Him and for yourself: Psalms 138:14 "I will praise thee, for thou art fearfully magnified: wonderful are thy works, and my soul knoweth right well". From Douay Rheims Bible