About 6 weeks ago my husband and I started a weight loss program.
I will not bore you with all of the details of our weight loss plan, but I will tell you we integrated less calories (no seconds at meals) with a focus on whole grains, little (to no) white flour/potatoes/sugar, and a diet loaded with fresh fruits and vegetables. Is it working? Yes. Is it difficult? One huge YES!!!!
My slips and slides, spikes of insulin, have lessened, but now the cravings have returned. It has brought me to comparing the weight loss endeavor to life itself.
How do we stick with a plan? We focus on the horizon.
Small business owners go through ups and downs while growing their businesses. Is their product what they want it to be? Are their customers really happy? One day it feels right, the next day it feels all wrong. It is a natural part of doing business, but, without an eye on the horizon, without the steadfast walk towards the goal, it could be a matter of crash and burn.
Weight loss is no different. Like the carrot dangling in front of the rabbit in the race, if the picture that we want to create of ourselves (a healthier body, or a smaller size) is not retained as a goal, we will eventually give in to our cravings and weight loss will be thrown to the way-side.
Life is full of frustrations, side-tracks, and little lies that tell us that doing what is right is just too difficult. Na-da!
Keep your eye on the horizon. Keep your eye on the goal. Don’t look to the right, nor to the left. Look where you want to go.
I believe, do you?
Annies Goat Hill Handcrafted Soaps 
Good luck keeping your eyes on the horizon! We’ve stuck to our vegetarian type of diet for almost 2 years now.
Amy
Was the vegetarian diet difficult at first, Amy?
This is something that I must keep telling myself EVERY…SINGLE….DAY….for several different things.
I just gotta hang in there till the end(meaning that the goal is achieved).
I cannot imagine not sticking with the goals, Becky. You know? We have to!
You’ve come a long way…and you are going to do it (reach that obtainable goal)!!!!
Thank you for the insight and the encouragement. We are so busy trying to get our products out that we neglect the most important goal. Taking care of ourselves, so yes we have to keep our eyes on the Horizon.
It definitely slips through the cracks now and then, Colleen. Sometimes it takes a jolt, or a step backwards, to remind us to stop and smell the roses…remember who we are, and why we do what we do. Without taking care of ourselves we would definitely not be able to do the things that we want to do…sticking with what is on our horizon!
Good, encouraging post, Mary! The Scripture says the same thing – keep your eyes on the prize! Thanks for sharing your weight loss journey. I’m with ya! 🙂
Debbie, you are a good lady. Today, I said to my husband, I truly appreciate friends that remind me of Scripture. Keeping our eyes on the prize!
One of my favorite songs at church –
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Yes eyes on the prize – in this life and the next — congratulations on the hard work of losing weight and gaining health – when I “cheat” on my eating plan I only cheat myself of days and years of active life – we humans are a strange group aren’t we? Thrilling changes going on at Goat Hill – hooray!
You said a mouthful of truth there, Linda Sue. Us humans are a “strange group,”
I love the line “And the things of earth will grow strangely dim.” It puts my thoughts right in its place.
A few years ago when I returned from a stint in cally, I gained a huge amount of weight, and after witnessing my moms yo-yo attempts, I too also desperately needed to go on a diet.
It took over 1 year, to lose everything and get back to the weight I am accustomed to. But I have not once gained it back.
It was very difficult at first, but I just started easy, changed my diet to a more healthy one, and kept the same portions, then after a month, I slowly cut down the portion size, and took my time.
I have every faith in you and your husband. Slow is the best way to go IMHO.
I appreciate the vote of confidence.
Losing weight is something that seems to take more than a fad diet. Those types works for a while, until a person grows tired of it, or begins to feel ill. At least that is how I see it.
I agree with you, going slow is the best way. As my husband said, “We didn’t gain this weight in one week. It isn’t coming off in one week.”