Depression and Quitting

I watched a video today from someone just starting their weight loss journey. She was having a really down day and was bold enough to share it with the world. She has been having a hard time with the temptation of food that is bad for her. She was so depressed over it … it was downright raw and gut-wrenching.

And honestly, not that out of the ordinary.

I help people with weight loss for a living. It’s what I do. I’m still on my own journey, but I have a couple years experience under my belt, not to mention a long sad saga prior to that.

I understand being disappointed in yourself for giving in to temptation. I understand wanting to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over your head. But guess what, reality is knocking and it’s not going away.

Sorry, just keeping it real.

I have seen so many people quit. Over little things really. With healthy eating, I have yet to see anyone do it perfectly. So when you give into temptation … don’t beat yourself up, and don’t throw in the towel. Who cares, just don’t quit. When you’re having a down day … recognize that not every moment of your life has to be happy, happy, joy, joy.

Rome wasn’t built in a day. No one loses fifty pounds in a day.

Two years down the road I rarely eat fast food, crackers, or potato chips or drink pop … but that has all been a very gradual process. (And note I said rarely, not never. Also note several items not on the list. J) It took a lot of trial and error to get it through my thick head that I don’t feel good after consuming any of the above. And now I’m making my protein shakes with yogurt, spinach, and chia seeds … how hilarious it that. Again, not something that happened overnight.

I see a lot of people not even attempt to lose weight because they are soooooo beaten down. They think they can’t do it. They think they don’t have time. They think they don’t have money. Nothing has worked before. So they self-medicate with carbolicious, unhealthy food and keep the vicious cycle going. And continue to make excuses. I do not say that judgementally. How many decades did I keep that up …

So here’s the deal … my general advice and rules …

1. If you haven’t started taking better care of your nutrition … start!
2. When you feel like you’ve messed up … don’t quit!
3. If you choose to ignore rule #2 … restart!

I might be slightly passionate about the issue. (!!!)

So, let’s see, very recently besides the woman in the video, who is a friend of a friend (and not quitting btw) … I have seen personally …

• A woman who is restarting, who just kills me with how tired she has seemed lately. I can’t wait to see a new attitude and energy from her!
• Several people who deal with chronic pain but have obviously quit on their healthy eating plan. And who would admit to you that better nutrition lessens their pain. And who don’t really want to admit to me that they’ve quit. Here’s hoping and praying that they restart.
• Several people who are heart attacks waiting to happen but are either too defeated, afraid, or oblivious to help themselves and get started.

I’m not here to judge. I’m here to encourage. To be real. To help. But you have to want it.

J