I have spent many years of my life struggling with my weight. Starting in my childhood to adolescence years, into my early twenties, and then in my thirties after I had kids. Growing up, I was not the girl who was naturally thin or has always been athletic. Finding fashionable clothes that fit was always difficult. Shopping at the store “5-7-9” was a let-down most of the time because the 9’s rarely ever fit. I could never at any point in my life just eat what I wanted and never gain a pound. I always wished I could, but that was not my body.

It wasn’t until I was in my twenties, when I as at my heaviest (the first time) that I finally learned what I needed to do to lose weight in order to look and feel healthy. It took time to shift my mindset and to build new, healthier habits and routines. But once I committed to these new habits and a healthier mindset around food and exercise, I reached my goals without it ever feeling like a was on a “diet”. It was just my lifestyle.

After having babies, I found myself struggling with my weight again. I was completely consumed in the chaotic world of motherhood. I spent most of my thirties raising children and prioritizing their needs. They benefited immensely from all of my love, care, and attention. However, I neglected to give myself the necessary TLC that I also needed. I did try a few times to “lose the baby weight” and get back to the pre-baby fitness life, but I had fallen back into old bad habits. I knew what I needed to do, but because my mindset wasn’t in the right place, I wasn’t able to implement those healthy habits and routines that I needed to reach my goals. But after hitting my heaviest weight for the second time, I knew that I needed to make changes, so that I could be around as long as I could, for myself, but also for my family. They needed to have a mom, and a wife, that was healthy, happy, confident, and strong.

1. I stopped waiting for the perfect time to start.

I can’t tell you how many times I told myself that I would start on Monday. All I did was continue to wait and postpone. The right time never came, because there will never be the perfect time to start.

2. I stopped the “All or Nothing” mentality.

For several years I had the mindset that if I couldn’t do it all, I might as well do nothing. I thought if I couldn’t workout 5 days a week and I couldn’t maintain a strict “diet”, then why even try?! That mindset seeks out perfection and extremes, which aren’t realistic or sustainable.

3. I stopped focusing on quick results.

Wanting to reach that goal as quickly as possible is a mindset that doesn’t help us in the long run. It is a surefire way to feel frustrated and defeated when you don’t see result happening quickly enough. Making changes to our health takes time and there is no end.

4. I Stopped quitting after I got frustrated or after I hit small goals.

I frequently quit after I got frustrated when I didn’t see results, but I wasn’t patient, and health and wellness goals take time. There’s no finish line. It goes on forever.

5. I stopped eating too few calories and restricting myself too much.

I used to hate diets because I found myself feeling hungry all the time and feeling deprived of the things I really enjoyed. Well that’s because it was overly restrictive and unsustainable.

6. I stopped thinking of fun food as a reward or exercise as a punishment for eating fun foods.

I would tell myself that if I did a good job one day, or had a great week, or even reached a small goal, I deserved a reward. It would be a treat that I had been restricting myself from. Or even worse, found myself “falling off track” binging on some calorie dense food, then feeling like I need to go to the gym to work it off.  No, No, and No. That way of thinking isn’t healthy for us.

7. I stopped thinking that I HAVE to work out.

Working out can definitely feel like a drag when you have the mindset that you HAVE to work out. I remember it feeling like a chore and that I felt like I always needed to get it over with. Shifting my thoughts and having the mindset that I GET to work out, was a game changer.

8. I let go of wanting to get back to my pre-baby weight and fit into my pre-baby clothes.

For years my only goal was to lose the baby weight so that I could fit back into my pre-baby clothes. It was all about trying to attain that pre-baby body. Finally, I decided that I didn’t need to fit into those clothes or be that person that I was in my twenties. I realized that I had grown and evolved. My body had done miraculous things. I decided to focus on my health and longevity.

Tell me, did any resonate with you?