Reasons, Excuses and Empty Promises

[Tammy Farrell 12]

Sex? Dating? Quit smoking? Lose weight? - What is it you're putting off?

You know you're doing it. Read on for some food for thought and a double-dog-dare-you challenge.

Today.

Yes, Today.

It's so easy to defer things until later. Until the time is right. Until you're more ready.

I've been there too. You're surrounded by a massive to-do list of things that seem to be a higher priority at the moment...or at least they seem more fun. Do you put off making changes that you know you'll benefit from for reasons that really just wouldn't fly if it were your best friend telling you those things?

Is this you?

I'll start back at exercising....eating better...sleeping more...consider changing jobs....

...once the boys' hockey schedule isn't so hectic...

...after I get my diabetes under control...

...once I know the price of gas will stay down...

...after every ounce of snow melts in Boston ( - and you live in Phoenix!)

You've made promises. Commitments. Resolutions. But haven't followed through. What now?

Empty promises that you make to yourself do more than derail you from your dreams. They rob you of hope. They erode your trust. They can make you feel worthless.

But What if...?

There are what if's in every direction. What if I don't get the job?

Sometimes the opposite question can be even scarier - What if I do lose 80 pounds?

Ouch. A lot of times we don't realize that not knowing how we'd handle positive changes in our lives holds us back as much as or possibly even more than our fear that things might not work out.

It doesn't matter if your nemesis is needing to lose weight, quit smoking, or not sleeping enough to keep yourself focused all day. The core of what paralyze us is often the same.

Whether you're curious about weight loss surgery, have had it, or don't care a lick about it, I invite you to watch this video prepared by the American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgeons (ASMBS - Disclosure: I'm an ASMBS Integrated Health member). Watch it with an open mind. Then - think about what's holding you back.

Now. Make it real.

Say it out loud.

My next request is a big one. Really big. I want you to talk with someone about an important change you want to make and what's holding you back. Talk to anyone. Comment here, tell your doctor, tell your best friend. Tell someone you'll never see again. Say it in a forum, say it to a baby, message me privately. You've got 5 minutes to take action.

Go!

[My Bariatric Life 764]

Yup... I let fear hold me back. I put off the WLS for years. It turned out that it saved my life.

I guess that I did not learn my lesson of allowing fear hold me back because I put off my plastic surgery for 6 or 7 years. It turned out to be the best thing I ever did for myself.

After my plastic surgery I vowed never to let fear hold me back from doing what I want to do (or say). And I am honoring that commitment. I have been living life fully doing things I never would have done in the past. I always say that I am a size 2 and living larger than ever!

Live a life you love. Love the life you live.

[lisacaron 5,075]

I put off taking care of myself for years and years and years. I don't mean just being overweight or losing weight but truly taking care of myself. Making sure I was healthy and took the time out to make sure I was eating well, and sleeping enough and getting fresh air and sunshine. I was not living mindfully, I was living fully running around at top speed trying to cram a million tasks and to do's into the day. Only to crash into bed exhausted to "nap" as I liked to call it and then get up and run around again and again doing for everyone and everything but myself.

I don't know if I thought I wasn't worthy of my own time, or that I was thinking I'm so OK and together and all these other's knocking down my door are not and it's my responsibility to help them....? I was born with a super power...didn't you know?

Well, in my 20's and 30's it was easier to believe that, but as you cross that threshold of 30 something your body starts to say hold on there Wonder Woman you might be exceptional at a few things but you are no super human!! You are simply you and you need to slow it down and give it a rest or your going to break down.

So I let the body break down and I would get sick or hurt sprain this or that, and I would get back up again and keep on keeping on until the next time my body would break down. I would not fuel it correctly for the speed I wanted to drive it at and I did not make sure I checked the fluids and the tire pressure either I just drove her into the ground.

Finally she was breaking down, getting sick and not breathing right more often then not. I was spending more time at the Dr.'s office then time doing the things I loved doing, and I wasn't helping anything or anyone.

It was then that I woke up. I opened my eyes for the first time and took a good look in the mirror. I didn't see Wonder Woman I saw an sick, tired life beaten old lady who couldn't walk from her office to her car without her heart beating out of her chest and the need to know that one button on the phone could call 911 for help if the heart attack happened today.

It was time to make a change. It was time to take back my life, my time and put Lisa first. She was dying, I was spending all my time hiding behind the premise of helping others...and avoiding myself.

Today, I will admit that there are days when I allow myself to get too bogged down with a million other things...but those are rare days for me now. Today I take the time to be mindful of myself, what I am eating, when and how, as well as what I am doing and saying and my behavior as a whole.

It's not always easy, it's easier to hide behind "good intentions" and excuses but being honest with myself even when it's not pretty makes me feel AMAZING, healthy and happy!

[JustWatchMe 7,117]

Great post Lisa.