I have given this a lot of thought, and in this post I would like to share my insights with you. The battle against the bulge is one that I have been fighting since I was a child. At times, life’s hurdles made me feel like I was truly fighting a losing battle. Years of fertility treatments, 2 pregnancies, and a hormonal disorder certainly doesn’t bode well for obtaining the slim physique I have always dreamed about. However, my long journey has been an education I wouldn’t want to have missed out on had weight loss and improved health come too easily. Every day I thank God for his blessings and guidance, which assures me that I am not walking this road alone.

“Everything you go through grows you.”
― Robert Tew

So, what have I learned?

I have learned that success is possible when you make the word DIET a verb.

A verb is a “doing” word. It requires action.  For the record, my use of the word DIET comes from a realisation that what we eat (i.e. our diet), has a profound impact on our health. The LCHF diet, or way of eating, has enabled me to let go of all the negative connotations that this word has had for me in the past.

Here are some steps you can take towards implementing positive change.

Respect your body

Our bodies are the most incredible and miraculous creations. Our bodies deserve respect, not abuse. Showing your respect means making good choices about food and lifestyle. We can lead far more effective, and successful lives when we enjoy vibrant health. It is a pity that many people only appreciate health once they have lost it to disease. Start making health a priority today,  and align your actions and choices accordingly.

Stop making excuses

We all have hurdles and constraints that we have to overcome on a daily basis. Full-time work, looking after small children, a lack of skills in the kitchen, no time or energy, blah, blah, blah……. Whatever your excuse has been up to now, stop making it. Excuses only hold you back. Don’t give up your power and control to a circumstance that could be overcome with a little bit of extra effort. Don’t be afraid of hard work. If you want something bad enough, go out there and make it happen. The truth is, no-one else can do it for you.

Expect it to be challenging

I am not going to sugarcoat it. It is not an easy journey (especially in the beginning). Accept that fact now. You will have good days and bad days. Sacrifices will need to be made. This is very much a mental game, so get your mind right. For some it goes a step further and will involve the difficult task of breaking through a physical addiction to carbs and sugar. It is very likely that you will feel worse before you start feeling better. Your body will rebel, and your cravings will intensify. Dig deep, and find the strength to keep going. Remind yourself every day of your goal and why it is important to you. But whatever you do – don’t give up.

Educate yourself

If you want to be successful, you need to know what you are doing? Take the time to read and research. Many people ‘fail’ because they were just doing it wrong. Then they blame the diet. Experimentation is key. We are all unique individuals. Start with a sound framework. Cut out sugar, grains, processed foods and seed oils. Eat a large variety of different vegetables. Consume quality animal protein, and healthy fats. Play around with quantities, and find out what works well for you. Can your body cope with alcohol and dairy, or are those things best excluded for you to get the results you want? Keep it simple at first, and refine as you go. Never stop learning, and always keep an open mind. Pass what you learn on to your children, family, and friends and help others to turn their health around too.

Celebrate your victories

We so often are intently focused on the end goal that we forget to acknowledge our wins along the way. Break down your goal into bite size chunks that are measurable. Celebrate each milestone, and reward yourself. It will help you stay motivated and confident in the process. We also need to redefine “success.” Remember what I asked you to prioritize at the beginning? HEALTH. It is not just about what the scale says. Are you sleeping better? Do you have more energy? Has that itchy skin rash cleared up? Post-nasal drip gone? Allergies disappeared? Is your spare tyre of dangerous belly fat deflating? Celebrate!

Think long-term

Many people consider a diet a temporary phase. In other words, change your eating for a period of time to lose weight, and then once the weight is lost, go back to eating how you used to eat when you were fat and unhealthy. How did we ever think that strategy was going to end well? One doesn’t have to be a rocket scientist to identify the serious flaw in that thinking. Your diet needs to be tasty, nutritious, and satisfying for it to be sustainable long-term. It must enable you to effortlessly maintain your weight loss, and have loads of energy. In my 30 odd years of trying to lose weight (using every diet known to man), only an LCHF diet has ever ticked all those boxes for me.

In summary, my journey has taught me to be in awe of my body, and what it can do. I have learned that excuses get you nowhere fast. Challenges need to be tackled head on, because it is through adversity that we learn and grow. I thirst for knowledge, since knowledge enables us to make good choices. I celebrate what I have achieved, and allow feelings of pride to keep me moving forward. I have graciously accepted that this is how I will need to eat for the rest of my life. Every day I work towards my goal of excellent health – not just for myself, but for the benefit of my husband and my children.

How about you? Are you ready to make the word DIET a verb in your life? Are you prepared to do what it takes to enjoy better health? You CAN do it  – you just have to believe you can, and then take the first step.