Put Gas in Your Car !

 A Simple Analogy

"You know, I don't feel like putting gas in my car today. Today I feel like mixing the gas with sugar. 

Gas costs too much these days. And I can't really afford to buy the good stuff. "

 "Going out with friends tonight. Gonna stay up late, and got a long way to drive. Have to fill up before I get out there. But I'm going to add mayo to my gas tank. (I'm sure it won't make a difference)."

Hmm. 

Okay, so... the car is kinda sputtering. 

And it feels slow. 

Maybe sluggish or something. 

It's not running well. 

And it actually stalled three times this morning. 

Okay, I'm sure you get the analogy by now. 

You wouldn't expect your car to perform properly when you're putting things in that aren't meant to help it perform. 

It seems pretty stupid. 

It's common sense that to run properly, a car needs what it's made for : FUEL.

In the same way, putting crap in your body is sabotaging your body- and in turn, your life!

Why would you put, say, high fructose corn syrup, in your body daily ? And fatty, greasy goo, and pop with 12 teaspoons of sugar in one can... and still expect it to run properly ?

This garbage is making you run slower, feel sluggish, get tired and feel gassy and bloated. 

Crash and burn.

It's not MEANT to fuel your body. 

Why sabotage yourself with the stuff that is being made only because it's cheaper to make and easier to produce?
Yes, the "good stuff" costs more. It's because it's BETTER !

Would you go to a sketchy grimy place for a cheap tattoo? 

Or a guy who does laser eye surgery out of his basement? 

No. Because you know that it means trouble. 

But we do this every day with our bodies, and wonder why we always feel so lousy. 

Your body is made for fuel. 

Fuel makes it go.

 
Oversimplified?...Maybe.  

But it really is that simple.

Dear _____________:

When you are feeling down and out, or that you just cannot stick to eating healthy, or you fool yourself into thinking you are hungry for junk food, come read this post.

Remind yourself of all the times that you have felt like crap after eating something that wasn't "real food". 

How sluggish and terribly your body responded.

Remind yourself how horrible it feels to gain back weight that you have already worked so incredibly hard to lose. 

 D on't forget how easily it is for you to slip into discouragement when you don't take care of your body. 

And how much better you feel when you DO take care of your body.

 Remind yourself how good it feels to hop on the scale and see that number decrease from all of the hard work you put in.

Never forget that your goals ARE achievable, even if you have briefly strayed off of your path. There is no rush to have the fastest weight loss in history, but rather to do it right. And learn on the way. 

You have no one to answer to but yourself. 

You are doing this for YOU. 

You are doing this to improve your life, and your family's lives.

Don't forget that when you take care of yourself, the most important things that you hold dear -your family- will reap the rewards.

Don't forget how nice it is to fit in movie theater seats and food court seats and plane seats. And not have to put a blanket or pillow on your lap when you're on the couch.

 
You can do this. 

You are doing great. 

And I'm proud of you !!

Love, Me

So I read something similar on a website that has been quite helpful to me. It's called Calorie Count Member. Now, mind you, I don't actually count calories. I never have, and likely I never will. However, that being said, I glean a lot of information and encouragement from the website. All these people have had, or currently have, the same struggles as I do (or have had).
This scenario in particular, really stuck out for me:

Oh my gosh- gaining a pound every week, sometimes even 2 pounds! Could you imagine ?!?!  That would just be awful. 
 Now, let's gain some perspective here. Why is it that when we are trying to lose weight, 1 or 2 pounds is nothing to us, but if we were to gain that amount of weight in the same amount of time we would really freak out.
 One to two pounds seems like so little every week, until you look back 2 months later, and are down a whole 8-16 pounds. It's a lot of weight. Keep on keeping on; the weight will pile up so fast.
Like I have read so many times, the time is gonna go by anyway, you might as well get healthier, look better, and be happier while time goes by !
Do you have any idea how fast the time went by? And how happy I am?
I get it, the little-bit-at-a-time part. I know that it sucks to lose just a pound at a time. But either you do it, or you don't- and either way, 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, and a year will come.

Don't give up. It's so worth it.