Are your weight loss efforts like a dramatic theatrical performance? Have you ever experienced the ecstasy of hitting your goals, followed by the guilt of emotional overeating the very next day? You are not alone. Everybody likes a good performance but when we bomb, or fail to hit our goals we can feel embarrassment, shame and low self esteem. Without a clear perspective, our quest for weight loss can become a white knuckle performance of self denial and self control, quickly leaving us tired, frustrated and feeling deprived.

We live in a goal oriented, performance based culture and the weight loss industry is not immune. Magazines display celebrities losing incredible amounts of weight in short time periods. Infomercials promise miracle results. While setting realistic weight loss goals is helpful; performance worship can produce a self imposed desire for unrealistic goals and quick, easy results that are difficult to sustain.

To lose weight for life we need to choose principle over performance. Principles are the daily personal convictions that you live by. They form the basis of your lifestyle and enable you to achieve long term success. Principles are consistent whether you have a temporary setback in your program or you are getting great results. Choosing principles over performance will help you learn from your mistakes, get back on track quickly and prevent the highs and lows that come with a performance only approach.

So how do we build principles that work for us? Ask yourself the following questions:

1. What are the physical, emotional and psychological benefits I will gain from living a lifestyle of fitness?

2. How will a healthier lifestyle affect my relationships and interaction with my family, friends and co-workers?

3. If I choose to neglect a healthy diet and exercise plan how will it affect my life presently, 5 years and 15 years from now?

Answering these questions will help you find the principles that ring true for you, giving you the principles you need to live a lifetime of fitness success.

Robert Brace
nylean25.com

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