Today I wanted to talk about the difference between desperation and determination. How these two characteristics define who you are and how you deal with life. Lets start with desperation. The dictionary defines it as recklessness of despair. Desperate recklessness. That is not a very comforting word. There are so many times in our lives where we have been desperate and have made bad choices out of that desperation. One thing that I have learned over the years is that a decision made out of desperation is usually a bad one. It usually carries more pain and grief then the original problem. There have been many times on my journey to better health that I responded out of desperation. I would go on a deprivation diet or I would start to do some dangerous workout routines. I was so double minded when it came to my health. I would go on every fad diet and try every new, crazy scheme to get healthy. I was desperate to lose the weight and get healthy again. I was desperate to be skinny and what I perceived as beautiful. Unfortunately due to my desperation I did more damage to my body than good. Oh sure I would lose a few pounds but it would only last for so long. When you are desperate you are not thinking clearly. All you can see is the right now. You don’t feel like you can step back and take a breather before you make this life altering decision. When you are desperate you convince yourself that it is now or never. You can’t find any peace. Being desperate very seldom works in our favor.
What about determination? My definition is taking the time to think it through and make a decision based on facts not emotion. That is easier said than done, I know. But when you have accurate information and an make an informed decision the outcome is usually much better. You have a peace because you did your homework and feel well informed.
When it comes to your health I strongly encourage you to take the road of determination. It is important to realize the obvious, which is easily forgotten when you're desperate. Some of the keys to losing weight are just so obvious that they are very often overlooked. But when we acknowledge the obvious and start to put those changes into practice, we just might start to see some positive changes toward our end goal to get healthy and lose weight. When you're determined to get healthy and lose weight you need to make sure you have easy to obtain baby steps. Have a plan and lay it out in small easy to obtain goals. For example a good first goal might be to drink more water or stop eating anything with sugar. Maybe just starting to workout a little or starting to add healthier choices to your menu. Do what will work for you but make sure it is actually a challenge for you. If it costs you something to obtain it then it was a goal you worked hard for.
When it comes to what you eat on a daily basis, try to make smarter choices. Go for lean meats or beans, good grains, and lots of fresh fruit and veggies.
Drink plenty of water on daily basis. It will really help in the weight loss department as well as keeping your body running better.
Dessert is something that should be eaten only in moderation. You don’t need to eat it every night. Not only is that not healthy for you to be overloading on sugar, but it is also a great way to pack in a lot of extra calories late at night that are only going to turn into fat. Dessert needs to be something you eat on occasion, and even then don’t go overboard.
Another obvious is that going out to eat several times a week is a bad idea. Bad for your health and your diet but equally as bad on your budget. When you go out to eat you have no say about all the chemicals and poisons that are put into your food. You have no say in how the food is prepared. None of that is good for you if you're trying to lose weight and get healthy.
Next obvious would be portion control. If your plate is so full that the food is falling off the sides, then you have too much food. This is an obvious sign that you need to work on portion control. We eat way more food at every meal than our body could possibly need in one day. Your body only needs a small amount of balanced food to run properly for several hours. With all the supersizing and buffets that people frequently eat at, it's no wonder that people are confused when it comes to portion control. Try eating off a smaller plate and cutting your serving size in half. Add some fresh salad to your meals and this should be an easy goal to reach.
If you're looking for quick results, then you're desperate.You didn’t get unhealthy and overweight overnight. It has taken years and years of bad choices that got you to that place. Don’t expect it to come off overnight. That is just not logical. Instead of being desperate, try being determined. A determined person is going to realize that the only way to get healthy and stay healthy is to change your lifestyle. That is why I call this my Journey to better health. You have to be in this for the long haul. This has got to be about changing your life and your mindset. The greatest journey of your life begins with one step or one small change.
