Are you a rebel?

I believe to lose weight and stay fit you have to be.  To ride along with the rest of society just doesn't work.  Have you seen the line at the McDonald's drive through?  It's packed!  Steak & Shake now has all you can eat pancakes for $3.99.  Yipee.  The culture in general is not a great supporter of radical responsibility or extraordinary choices- both which are necessary to be fit and healthy.  It's time we had a revolution and rebelled against all the choices that are leading to us not feeling good about ourselves.

What does it take to be a rebel?

I believe it takes making a different choice, one choice after the next.  We are not overweight or out of shape because of genetics or hormones or menopause or age.  We are overweight and out of shape because of the foods we eat and don't eat, and the amount of exercise we get.  This may sound bad but really it is GREAT news because we can't change our genetics or hormones or menopause or age but we can completely change our nutrition and our exercise.  We are all empowered and capable of being at our healthy body weight.  All of us.

Rebellion step 1:  Shut off autopilot.  There comes a time when you have to take responsibility and choose differently.  Even when I am eating compulsively - and I would define that as eating something while telling myself not to and feeling totally powerless to stop - I recognize the need to say I choose to eat this.  It is the only way I know how to choose differently next time.  If I believe I have no ability to choose, change is impossible.  Own your choices.

Rebellion step 2:  Quit making excuses.  I absolutely have time to work out and so do you.  Some days I choose to exercise and some days I don't but it is always an option.  I know athletes that get up before 5:00 AM to make sure they get their training in.  It is important to them so they find a way.  It's not that I can't get up at 5:00 AM and exercise, it's that I don't WANT TO.  Who does!  It's not that I can't exercise at 8:00 PM, I just am tired and would rather watch Dancing with the Stars.  There are actually people at the gym at 8:00 PM though.  Recognize that if it is important to you, you will find a way.  The excuses have to go.

Rebellion step 3:  Shop and cook.  Make your own food.  Pack a cooler.  Take your lunch.  Think of your little cooler that you have with you every day as a survival kit.  If only I had half a PB&J every time I got crazy hungry when out and about, I would never end up in the drive through except for my diet Coke.  And when you end up out to dinner, be part of the healthy revolution and order off that part of the menu.  BJ's Brewhouse has an 'Enlightened Menu' now with several yummy entrees under 575 calories.  Cheesecake Factory has an entire page of their menu book with entrees under 590!  I believe if we order off these menus en mass, then the restaurants will keep offering healthy choices and we'll be part of the revolution.  Try it and see how good you feel about yourself for making that kind of choice.

It's not easy.  Eating healthy and exercising as a lifestyle does not always feel like the norm.  It's against the grain and takes a rebellious spirit to push against it and do something different.  But who wants to be the norm anyway!  I have gotten to know many of you and you are truly amazing women who have experienced life and loss and pain and yet you have found ways to overcome and conquer.  I think you are exceptional and I hate to see anyone with so much heart give in to a society where the lifestyle is not leading to your best possible life.  All of us deserve to feel great about ourselves and to live our lives as an expression of that.

 So go do it.  You have to do it- you can't just think about it.  You can't think change.  But you can join the revolution.  Now get moving!