It's not a diet, It's not a diet, It's not a diet!

Rachel Writes....

Like my title says... YOU have to continuously drill it inside YOUR head that... THIS IS NOT A DIET! What this is...is an entire new lifestyle.  THIS thing is forever! Since we have been hitting the gym pretty much every single night... we are beginning to see the gym "regulars."  There is an old man (about 70) who comes in every day about 1 am.   He is in very great shape for his age.  His skin is saggy as all hell and it hangs like tea bags all over his body.  He is extremely wrinkled however the muscle in his legs are unbelievable.  He comes in and gets on this stair climber for about an hour and then he sits in his car for about 20 minutes before he leaves.  This man is dedicated!  My point is... if you were to look around the gym you will see all these people who are either thin, skinny, tall, obese or extremely fit and maybe 90% of these people are young. Between 18-35. They stand in the mirror checking to see how they look.  You see  women pulling their t-shirts down over their butts and their heads are on a swivel checking to see who is looking at them.  It is pretty evident that most people there are doing this to simply "look good"  I bet you there are very few who are actually doing it for "health" reasons.  This old man (in my opinion) probably does care about his appearance to a certain extent, but his body is so old and saggy I don't think he is in there every single day to "look good" I believe he is doing it mainly for his health, maybe for his heart, and to live long and prosperous.  If only we (The young) could stop concentrating on how we look and concentrate on the bigger picture...a healthy life then I believe so many people would be more successful.  A lot of times we "diet" and hit the gym hard... we eat right and try to lose all this weight to "look good" Yes, that is what drives us and motivates us but we have to change our way of thinking for the long haul.

What I find most challenging about weight loss is looking at yourself every single day in the mirror and seeing that same person you no longer want to be.  As if all of your work and effort is somehow not doing anything.  How can I have ran an hour all week and still look like this!  Changing the way I think I will now think..."wow, that 1 hour of running all week sure did give me more energy this week, made me feel good, created circulation in my limbs for a healthy heart, and burned extra calories.  

Did yesterday pay off?  Yesterday will always pay off.  Yesterday is what brought you here today.  Yesterday is what helped you find peace today.  Are you in love with yesterday?  Are you in love with today?  Be in love with today for today will only bring you success tomorrow.  Fall in love with tomorrow because it is what motivates you to be successful today.  ~RachelShavon