It Takes Courage to Restart

When we haven't seen clients for awhile, one of the first things we will hear from them is: "I am really embarrassed to come back having put on some weight.”

This is not something one should ever be embarrassed about; in point of fact I find it a badge of courage. Even if someone is ‘off track' for a little while, it takes a lot of fortitude to get back on track. So any person who is starting (or restarting), has a lot of courage; thus, the following thoughts mean a lot to me.

Following are a few tips adapted from a colleague of ours in Calgary - Dr. Harry Lefebre:

- It takes a lot of courage to restart. It is human nature to feel guilty to think that we have let ourselves and others down. Therefore, taking the first step is a tremendous accomplishment.

- Working at controlling your weight can be the toughest challenge in your life. Try to refer to it as a life long project versus a battle or a struggle. You will get more positive results because you are a very important project and worth working on.

- A weight condition is a ‘chronic one'. In such a condition, there are times when there is good control and times there are flare ups. (i.e. the condition worsens)

- Strive for control; not cure.

- Understand that weight is a complex problem. Although weight is what brings people into the office, in reality there may be 1000 reasons that contribute to this one symptom.

- Never Quit.

- Fix it sooner rather than later. If you have lost weight and restart still below your highest weight, you have been successful!

- Learn from your mistakes and slips and improve on the reasons that led to your weight regain.

- If you are on a plateau, convert the "dreaded plateau” into a learning opportunity. Many times the best maintainers are those who lose in a stepwise fashion; they lose some weight then maintain, lose more, then maintain etc.

- Write down 10 specific reasons why you want to lose weight and refer to them often.

You see, success doesn't happen right away in any facet of our lives. Everything takes work, everything involves some success and some failures, but we cannot dwell on small perceived failures. If you just hang in there, and be willing to keep on trying no matter what happens in your life, you will be ultimately successful.

Never give up; you're worth the effort!

Dr. Doug