Fat 2 Fit: What Does It Take to Realize Our Best Self?

Becoming the healthy person you strive to be takes emotional willpower—a "no matter what" attitude. You can make up your own non-negotiable rules. Mine are: unless I'm sick or injured, I will exercise one hour and limit my caloric intake to 1,500 to 1,800 calories each day.

By: Carole Carson | Source: AARP.org | 2008-10-27

Most people agree it's a desirable goal to be trim, to have your clothes fit comfortably, and to see a number you like on the bathroom scale—in effect, to meld your body into the shape and size you want.

Certainly the "end" is unambiguous and delightful to envision. It is the "means" that trips us up. How do we become our personal best at any age? It's tempting to begin by adopting the latest fad diet, only to be disappointed when willpower fades. I took that path for 40 years.

Although I am an admittedly slow learner, I eventually succeeded beyond my wildest dreams. What did I do differently?

I changed my thinking. When I changed my way of thinking, everything changed around me.

I began by mustering every ounce of emotional will available to me. In a quiet dialogue with myself, I tracked down and connected with the "me" that functions as the inner witness. The inner witness was excited to begin. Her eager response: "Yes! Let's do it. I've been waiting for you. Now's the time."

I adopted a "no matter what" attitude. I had two non-negotiable rules, which, while not for everyone, worked for me: Unless I was sick or injured, I would exercise one hour and limit my caloric intake to 1,500 to 1,800 calories each day.

To keep that emotional will in place, I wrote down what I wanted to do and made daily journaling part of the accountability process. I also acknowledged my progress and my setbacks and breakdowns. Then I went public with my commitment and sought support.

Even so, my path wasn't a smooth one. I learned to be compassionate when I lost ground. Instead of berating myself, I reassured myself. I would remind myself that I was human and that to be human is to be imperfect. Then I focused on the lesson to be learned from the setback and recommitted myself to my goals.

I also learned how important it was to support others in reaching their fitness goals; hence, my interest in writing this note to you—a friend I have yet to meet. When I lend a hand to a traveler on the fitness path, I am repaid with a deposit in my own emotional willpower bank. "To give is to receive" takes on new meaning.