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I am a 44 year old single mother of two beautiful children; Brian 20, and Nicole 17. Being a mom is the thing I am most proud of; I could sit and ta...
 
 
 
 

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Choosing the Half-Full Glass: How to Be Successful in Fitness and Life

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Young woman sitting on springboard, drinking milk

Most of the time when we read about diet and weight loss success stories, we hear how “easy” it was and how “anyone” can do it. But the reality is, for most of us, it’s far from easy. In fact, sometimes it’s so not easy that we just give up. Believe me, I get it. I can’t even count the number of times I’ve worked hard at eating healthy or exercising with little to no results.

Of course, I’m still inspired when I hear success stories of women like Valerie Bertinelli and Marie Osmond. But what do we do when we are giving it all we've got, and we are still not getting the results we're looking for?

Should we throw in the towel? Consider ourselves a failure? Give up?

No, absolutely not. We are all success stories.

Rather than looking at where we've gone wrong and just giving up, it's time to look at what we've done right. That’s what I’ve been trying to do. Instead of focusing on the fact that I haven’t lost any weight in the last six weeks (even though I've been eating healthy), I’m trying to focus on the positive... and you can do it too.

For me, it all started in May, when I decided to get serious about making healthy lifestyle changes -- not just because I want to lose weight, but also because I know it will make a difference in my overall health and wellness. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make all the changes I wanted to overnight, but I did want to make the commitment to gradually eliminate the unhealthy foods from my diet while incorporating more nutritious foods.

And now I find myself in the classic half-full or half-empty mark in my healthy eating plan. I can choose to see my plan as half empty, because I haven’t even lost one pound yet. Or I can choose to see my plan as half-full, because I have had success in eating healthier foods and avoiding sugar. In other words, I can choose to feel good about myself or choose to feel like a failure. It’s totally up to me. And I’ve decided to try something new, “choose” to feel good about myself and take a closer look at all the ways I've been successful.

Although I haven't lost any weight yet, I have had the strength and willpower to maintain healthy eating habits (and give-up sugar) for over six weeks. In my book, that's success.

One of the most important life lessons I ever learned was realizing that I may not be in control of the ups and downs in my life (or weight), but I am in control of how I react and perceive all of it.

Are you trying to lose weight and doing everything right, but the numbers on the scale are still not changing?

That's okay. The eating healthy part is more important than the losing weight part.

Are you exercising regularly but you still feel out of shape?

That's okay. You may not be able to see it on the outside, but in the inside you are doing your body good.

Whether you are taking steps to eat healthy, reduce stress, get more sleep, or improve your life in any way...

  • Do it because it's what's best for you, and let go of your expectations of what the results should be.
  • Focus on the positive and all the things you are doing right.
  • See your glass as half full (and getting fuller).
  • Don't let other people's judgments bring you down; it's a reflection on them, not you.
  • Don't let your personal judgments bring you down; treat yourself with kindness.
  • Allow yourself to see all the ways you are being successful, even if that means you have to change your perception of what success is.

I think if you do these things, you will find that making healthy lifestyle changes will be a little bit easier. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Also See:

10 Dieting Tips To Help You Get Swimsuit Ready

Dieting: Confessions of an Emotional Eater

4 Tips to Help Your Dieting & Weight-Loss

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Beverly Flaxington 5 pts

This is a great reminder that sometimes it isn't getting to the "end goal" that matters, but enjoying the journey along the way. Being aware of the good food we eat, or the fact that our bodies are capable of exercise and can move freely can both be blessings in themselves. I will admit that I sometimes miss the Size 2 body I had until my 40's but I find things to like about this "new" body too as long as I value it and treat it well!

Beverly Flaxington

Blog: Dealing with Difficult People ( http://dealingdifficultpeople.blogspot.com/ )

Book: Understanding Other People: The Five Secrets ( http://www.understandingotherpeople.com/ )

Rusty Hoe 5 pts

Generally I'm a glass half full kind of girl but there are days where the glass is not just completely empty, but also broken on the floor. And that's okay. I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves to be positive all the time. The problem is that we then feel like a failure because we can't find that happy place.

I think we also need to acknowledge there will be times we feel crappy, ride the wave, and come out the other side, and not beat ourselves up about it. The success comes from evaluating those feelings and using them to move on or motivate.

I'm all for glass half full, but trying to make it a permanent ideal can also set you up for failure.

It's a balance and I do think attitude is everything. The people who can find the light in the darkest of places will always have the best outcome, but it's also okay to be a little shitty at times.

Michelle Roger writes for Living With Bob (Dysautonomia) ( http://bobisdysautonomia.blogspot.com/ )

Catherine Morgan 5 pts

Thanks so much for your comment. I am definitely past referring to myself as a dieter. I'm not quite and "health nut" but it's something to aspire to.
:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

thedietbookjunkie 5 pts

great points! it's so important to keep positive, and to identify ourselves with positive things. i know for me, everything changed once i started calling myself a "health nut" as opposed to a "dieter". a "health nut" doesn't need restrictions; she makes better choices because that's who she is. it's something to be proud of! (i think, anyway.) it's amazing how the world changes just by seeing it from a different angle. thanks for the reminder:)

Catherine Morgan 5 pts

Thanks...I totally agree. I think the reason I've been able to stick to it this long is because I joined the American Cancer Society's "Choose You" campaign. The program encourages you to reach out for support from family and friends.

http://www.chooseyou.com/Default.aspx

Thanks for commenting.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

natural-health 5 pts

I know, it's not easy. The main thing is "sticking to it". We all need support from our families and friends as well. It's more to healthy living and fitness than just the physical aspect.
---

I write about natural health ( http://www.nahanniriverherbs.com/ ) and tips/advice for creating a natural lifestyle.

Catherine Morgan 5 pts

Thanks Maria...What's the link to your post?

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Catherine Morgan 5 pts

Hi Jenna...I think we can all relate to "those" kind of days.

Thanks for commenting. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you.

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

Catherine Morgan 5 pts

Thanks Melissa...I think it's how you feel that is most important.
:-)

Contributing Editor Catherine Morgan
Also at Catherine-Morgan.com ( http://catherine-morgan.com/ )

MariaMedia 5 pts

I wrote about this very subject on my blog today. You can either allow yourself to be negative about something, or change your perception and choose to be positive about it. It has made a huge difference in my life.

I think the practice of Yoga is one of the best work outs you can do that provides positive reinforcement for being happy with who you are, loving your body and not comparing yourself to others - but being happy with what you are able to accomplish.

JennaHatfield 10 pts

I really kind of am a glass half-full kinda gal. Most days. I look for silver linings on the really bad days. I try to keep my chin up. I think positive. I push myself to keep a smile on my face even when people all around me are frowning. But days like today are hard and instead of a glass half-empty outlook, I have an OMG! IT'S TOTALLY EMPTY! outlook going on.

THESE are the days that I remind myself that tomorrow IS a new day (which goes right back to my half-full way of thinking).

Jenna Hatfield (@FireMom ( http://twitter.com/FireMom )), from Stop, Drop and Blog ( http://stopdropandblog.com ) and The Chronicles of Munchkin Land ( http://thechroniclesofmunchkinland.com ), is a freelance writer and newspaper photographer.

Melissa Ford 5 pts

I've tried to stick to this outlook even though I'm not seeing the results I want. I keep telling myself that muscle weighs more than fat, hence how I can run this much and not lose the weight. As I build muscle, my weight it remaining constant, even though I feel like I'm in better shape.

Excellent reminder about attitude!

Melissa writes Stirrup Queens ( http://stirrup-queens.com ) and Lost and Found ( http://lostandfoundandconnectionsabound.blogspot.c... ). Her book is Navigating the Land of If ( http://thelandofif.blogspot.com/ ).