You Are on the Road to Wellness

You are on the road to wellness, but your mind doesn’t want to go with you .

Yeah, yeah…you eat the healthy stuff.

But you know you are fat. Your parents told you. So did your friends and your teachers.

The TV is full of ads that show people who sport thin bodies. They look happy.

All over your social media feed, you see people post selfies. They seem to be successful. They all boast about their sparkling lives.

And you…you don’t even dare take a selfie. Who would want to look at it?

You don’t.

Because you don’t look the way you want to look.

David Bayer says, “Beliefs are decisions.”

Some time ago, you decided to listen to what people were telling you about you.

Upon listening to them, you decided that you don’t deserve to reach a state of wellness. You decided that you are not a healthy person. You decided that there’s no beauty in you.

Every time you weigh yourself, you confirm this. “I knew it. I’m still fat.”

Here’s the thing: the number on the scale is not that important.

Yes, it is an indicator of your overall health, but it is not the only piece of information to pay attention to.

Instead, how are your insulin levels? Triglycerides?

After you eat, how many hours go by before you feel hungry again? Way less than 4?

Do you have digestive issues like bloating, gas, constipation, or diarrhea?

How’s your mobility? Can you stand from a chair without help? From the floor?

Can you go up a flight of stairs without feeling like you are going to die?

How’s your sleep? Are you even sleeping?

When you wake up, do you feel refreshed?

All of the points above will tell you way more about your health than a number on the scale.

Yes, it is important to know your weight. No, it is not the most essential thing in the world.

Change is terrifying for the brain.

Trust me: the last thing your brain wants to do is to engage in new routines. It’s just easier to keep doing the same things over and over again. You may try to, but soon you’ll find yourself back in the same old habits. Habits that fit the beliefs you have about the way you think you look.

Therefore, the first thing to change is your mindset.

Reading body-positive quotes won’t cut it.

You have to believe it.

If I may: I think you should decide that you are a healthy person. Decide it now.

Right now.

And then, go do the things healthy people do:

Do strength training in moderation, increasing the level of challenge as time goes by.

Move more. Choose the longest path. Whenever possible, take the stairs. Volunteer to walk the dog. Some people work out 2 hours a day and then sit for 10 hours straight. That is not good. It’s not just about exercising a lot, it’s about having an active lifestyle.

Ditch sugar and processed foods. Even if you can’t afford a nutritionist, just making this small change in your diet will do wonders for you.

Careful: your mind will resist the change.

It will resist it with all its might. It will start making little excuses such as: but I need new sports shoes before I can start doing this. Healthy food is always expensive. And my personal favorite: but I have always been too big.

Now, being “big” is not a problem. The problem comes if you are unhealthy.

If this is the case, you owe it to yourself to do your best to have more energy. To stay around for those you love. To have a brain free of the sugar-induced fog that keeps you for doing your best work.

Do it.

Do it because you have decided that you love yourself. That you deserve the best life you can have.

Do it because you believe in yourself.

Do it because you have decided this is who you are.

P.S. This is who you are.