Being healthy means feeling good in your mind, body and spirit. Health is being free from disease and listening to what your body needs.
As I think about the years I’ve struggled to be the weight I wanted, I wished I would have known more about defining success by being healthy rather than a number on the scale.
For so many years, I never thought about the health side of weight, just the image of what I looked like. Now, as I have aged, I better understand the consequences of the choices I make and how they impact my health.
As Mike Ditka said, “Success is measured by your discipline and inner peace.”
There was never inner peace when I was on the journey to a certain weight or once there because of the fear of not staying there. Yes, momentarily, excited that I achieved my goal. But, because I was more motivated by the number rather than why it was important to me. My weight has been a rollercoaster ride for me.
And, it was always about trying to beat the system – can I out exercise what I ate? I could do Weight Watchers or Nutri-system and loose the weight I wanted, but maintaining was not there. And, even in the process:
- I didn’t eat quality foods.
- I’d have lots of processed foods.
- I’d have unhealthy chatter going in my head.
- I failed to focus on and be grateful for all the ways my body was great to me.
I am committing to being healthier in 2017.
The healthier you feel, the longer you live.
That’s important to me. Why? Because my world has been surrounded with examples of what happens to you when you mind, body or spirit are unhealthy.
So as you begin thinking about being healthy rather than skinny, the first place to begin is to define your WHY.
Why do you want to be healthy?
According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, being skinny is not really in your best interest. Studies have shown overweight people or those with body mass indexes of 25 to 30 have a lower risk of dying than people of normal weight and/or skinny people.
What is the outcome you want? Define what success would look like for you as you achieve “being healthy.”
Is it to feel vibrant, healthy and strong? Then break each of those down. How will you know when you are vibrant, healthy and strong?
You decide what that is for you. For each person that will look and feel differently.
What are the healthy choices you are making? Spend more time focusing on them. As Abraham-Hicks talks about, in order to make the changes you want, you must focus more energy on what you want rather than what you don’t. Like, if you forgot to eat more greens and fruit on a day. Notice it, but go back to your plan. Focus on what you want and appreciate the good things you are doing. Don’t let it derail you.
Let your dominant intent be to feel good. Appreciate each step you take that makes you healthier. Celebrate it.
Create a “God jar.” Put your wins in it. At the end of each week, go back and read what you have done. At the end of the month, read it again. You will be able to see all the wonderful things you have done. Often, when time has gone by, you forget the little things that really gave you the big wins, so some practice like this is important to any change you are trying.
Keys to being successful:
- Mindset – Be kind to yourself. Use mantras like:
“My health is very precious to me. I take excellent care of myself.”
“My body is always going in the direction of optimal health.”
If you put doubt, resistance and uncertainty in your mind and focus, that will hold you back or block you from moving closer to your healthy.
Don’t take yourself too seriously. Being light and free about this process allows you to be open to receive what you desire.
Find a way for this to be a positive rather than feeling like you are depriving yourself.
- Discipline – Get a clear picture of what you want so you can make a plan.
The more committed you are to your goals, like knowing why being healthy is important to you, the more likely you will attain what you are after.
Be consistent. Do what you say you will do.
- Focus – The more clarity you have around your goals or desire, the more likely it will happen for you. Define your SUCCESS of being healthy. Know what matters to you.
That’s why the vision is so important to you. The more you focus on it with a fun certainty it will happen, the more likely you will achieve what you are after.
Obstacles to you achieving your healthy are inconsistency, losing your focus and commitment.
Where can you begin to being healthier? Take baby steps.
- Move more.
- Add more greens such as green smoothies.
And,…
Remember, being healthy is more like a marathon than a sprint. This is a lifestyle change.
Don’t look at the 30 lbs. you want to lose, look at what you can do tomorrow to be healthier.
Keep that as your mantra. What is one thing I can do tomorrow that will make my life healthier? Plan for the next day the night before.
Changing things to improve your health can be challenging but it is rewarding. Take pride in yourself. Make a commitment to improve your life and choose healthy over skinny. What matters is you are healthy and happy.