A few weeks ago, I received my weekly phone call from my brother, John. Ever since I can remember, John and I spent every Saturday morning on the phone talking mainly about John’s problems. Actually, John talked, and I listened.
The conversation started as it always did with the, “How you doin’?” stuff. As usual, John’s life was awful, and I made the mistake of asking the obligatory why.
Oh, I went to the doctor’s this week for my annual check-up, John explained. “I just don’t get it… my cholesterol level is still high, and the doc is still on me about my weight. I’m constantly watching what I eat, and I joined the gym. I just don’t understand why I’m not losing weight and why my cholesterol level is still through the roof.”
Now, typically I listen to John’s Schleprock routine and offer the sympathetic ear with no problem. But this time I just couldn’t take it any more. So when he said, “I just don’t get why it’s so easy for you to lose weight, but I have a hard time with it,” I lost it.
Easy for me? I screamed. “John, do you think your failure to lose weight has anything to do with your ritualistic stop every morning at the donut shop to pick up that large coffee with extra cream and extra sugar? Or maybe it has something to do with the crueler you eat with that coffee every morning. Maybe it’s that Saturday afternoon quick snack with the kids at MickyDs. And, John, you actually have to go to the gym, not just join it!”
Needless to say, my brother hung up on me and hasn’t spoken to me since. Maybe that’s a good thing. The constant “woe is me” thing was irritating to say the least.
However, the entire situation actually hit a nerve, and it has been bothering me ever since that phone conversation. So many people question why they cannot lose weight when the answer is staring them right in the face. Are they just that comfortable with lying to themselves? Can’t they see what they are really doing? (Ok, that was 2 questions.)
I struggle with my weight just like everyone else. I know it’s hard. It kills me, though, that so many people will continue to fool themselves into believing that they will be successful at losing weight without changing bad habits.
So, if you’re asking the question, “Why can’t I lose weight?” Please take a good look at yourself and answer the additional questions below:
1. Are you really changing your eating habits?
2. Are you eating the right things?
3. Are you truly exercising?
4. Are you actually putting in the effort to lose weight?
If you’re still making those stops at the donut shop more than once a month or eating at McDonalds on a weekly basis or not using that gym membership at least 3 days a week, then you should have answered “no” to all 4 questions above.
Making the changes you need to make in order to lose weight is a tough battle. If you can’t identify what to eat, when to eat, how much to eat, and how often to exercise, then chances are you need to join a weight loss program.
I hope you find one that works for you.
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