Are you worth the effort?
By: Cher Ewing
I hear this from my clients more than I would like to admit Im not worth the effort, time or energy required to be successful in my weight loss efforts. As Im coaching my clients I hear this over and over. Some of them dont say it in so many words; itâs more of their actions than the actual words.
Most people want to put the needs of their family, friends and work before their own needs. I know I was guilty of this prior to my Lap Band Surgery. I never thought about what was best for me, or what would make me a better person. My thought process was if I please everyone else then my pleasure would come. Well guess what it didnt. I continued down the same lonely path and trust me it was very sad and lonely. No one understood the pain I was in, because I didnt share it with anyone. I was always the funny carefree person to the world but on the inside I was a sad lonely depressed woman.
Obesity is a terrible disease; it robs of our happiness, pleasure and most importantly of our self respect. For some reason we sub-consciously believe the lie we hear from society; we are lazy, unmotivated and unworthy. This couldnât be further from the truth.
Think back to when to you were going through the approval process; it was scary, frustrating and exciting all at the same time. This was it, you were finally going to get the weight off and be the person you have always longed to be. Then reality sets in about 2-3 months post-op âWork is involvedâ and commitment to the process is required.
Umm this is not what you signed up for; this was supposed to be the be-all end-all. Slowly you revert back to old patterns, you stop watching what you eat like you did immediately post op, you slack up on your exercise plan and then you just give up and say âAnother diet that failed meâ.
Do you know where this comes from? It comes from low self-esteem, low self-confidence and most importantly low self-worth. I know how you feel because it happened to me throughout my Lap Band journey.
I had my good days and good months; then something would shift and I would revert back to old patterns. This went on during year two and three of my journey.
Thankfully all that changed; after I got fed up with being fed up. I knew this was not what I had signed up for, I realized it is hard but it needs to be embraced. If it was easy or required no work or effort on my part where would the reward come from?
Making the decision to stay committed to my Lap Band journey is hard, but trust me the rewards outweigh the guilt, and the low self-worth.
I remembered back to when I was a little girl and all the dreams I had and how none of them had come true. For most that would be depressing; it actually inspired me. I had allowed Obesity to rob me of my dreams. Then I had my light-bulb moment. Hey Im not dead I can still make my dreams come true. I realized I was Worth the effort. So my question to you is Are you worth the effort?
If you are having a hard time realizing you are worth it; think again. I believe in each and everyone of you. I am inspired by your courage to get on that table to change your life. Now is the time to embrace every change you are going to experience and allow yourself to be a priority. The happier you are, the better you are to everyone around you.
Cher Ewing, CC www.bandedtogether.net
