What is the real goal?

Don't you just love those "Aha" moments, when the light bulb turns on and an epiphany presents itself, and you wonder... "Why didn't I realize that before?"
One of those moments clicked for me today.

I read an interesting article today that stated, "Weight loss in itself as a goal, is a guarantee for failure". It went on to explain that there has to be more to it than that. So you reach your goal.... and then what? The goal needs to be your "Why". The goal gets you to that thing you want after reaching that pivotal point. Why does someone want to lose weight? Everyone that is trying to lose weight has their why....but a lot of the time they lose their focus, and it becomes all about a number on the scale, or a size of clothing. How different it would be, to have first and foremost motivating you....the reason you want to feel better. We tend to be able to rattle off the things we don't like about being overweight or unhealthy. Negativity comes so easily. But if we focus on the opposite of those things (that is what we are wanting, isn't it?), suddenly a new light is shed and we have a renewed sense of motivation. We can see that positive thing we are striving for. Try filling in the blanks here......"What I really want is_______, and then what I would do is_______, and I just want to feel_______. The reasons are personal, and unique for each individual. Those people that get to their goal.....and maintain it, have found that "Thing", that comes as a result of getting there. They find joy in the experiences they can now enjoy because of reaching their goal. "Weight loss is not an end in itself; it is the means to an end....It is the means to achieve more important goals".

Now you have the "Aha" moment too! What will you do with it? If you are fortunate enough to already be in a place of optimal health, hats off to you! There are some of us following along and will be there soon too. But never lose focus on what your healthy body is giving you and take note of where you want to be 10, 20, 40 years from now. Let's all be grateful for these amazing bodies that have been given to us, and strive to take the best care possible of them. Give thanks that we are still breathing in and out, and each single thing we can do beyond that, is just one more blessing we have.

I know I'm grateful for all I have, and for my health and strength. My "why" at the moment, is to preserve what I have, improve what I can, and enjoy all that is left.

Food journal (we won't talk about yesterday and the cookies made for the lemonade stand...you get my drift) Dang those little beasties again! ---the cookies, not the kids :)

Peach oatmeal (meal replacement - MR)
caramel crunch bar - MR
chili nacho cheese puffs - MR
Handful of almonds - snack
Roast beef
stirfry (onion, garlic, zucchini, sugar snap peas, bok choy) delicious
cucumbers in vinegar
baked squash
sugar free Popsicle

65 oz water
omega 3 supplement

***Shout out to: New client couple... 4 days on the 5 & 1 and she's lost 4 lbs, and he's lost 10 pounds! Way to go, keep it up. You're feeling better already, and there's only more of that to come!!!

***Did you know: That the "masters" of weight loss (those who have maintained if for more than 2 years),view what they do to control their weight as lifestyle change. They accept that they cannot return to their old ways. But they neither regret their choices nor feel sorry for themselves. They understand that weight maintenance takes effort and determination. Yet the masters make it clear that any hardships associated with maintenance are far less troublesome than the difficulties endured when they were overweight.