Do we all want to be lean and buff? Strong and sexy? Make heads turn? Of course we do. (Come on, don’t try and tell me you don’t).

Really, for all the people that desperately want to lose weight, why is it that most of them don’t?

This morning I read a great online post that got me thinking about motivation (or maybe the lack of it). It actually had nothing to do with health and fitness, but the topic was “productivity” and “getting unstuck”. The author wrote “if we really just cared about what we were doing and had a worthy goal to work towards, of course we would get all of our work done.” Hmmm….

Care? Of course most people do care that they’re overweight, but is that they don’t care enough to do something about it? Or is it that they care too much about other things (like donuts) to really care about what’s going on with their bodies.

How about a worthy goal? How big does your goal have to be to give you that swift kick in the butt you may need?

Here are just a few answers I came up with…

Do you care about the extra weight you are carrying around?

Ok, no brainer. If you’re reading this newsletter, chances are you care at least a little bit about getting the extra weight off (unless you are my husband and you know I’m going to quiz you later on whether or not you read the newsletter).

Or maybe you really care about the “not so good” news your doctor dished out to you on your last visit. Of course, many of us care…but do we care enough? Why is it that we think our jobs, social lives and watching TV are more important than doing something about our high blood pressure, diabetes or obesity?

If you’ve ever told anyone, “I work long hours, I just can’t worry about what I eat.” Or “I go out a lot. It’s too hard to eat healthy while at a restaurant.” Or, have chosen to watch TV instead of doing your exercise for the day, then YES you are guilty of caring more about those things than your health.

Isabel, why are you being so mean? Well, haven’t you ever heard that the people that love you the most will be the ones that will give it to you straight? Yup, that’s me. I want everyone to wake up each day and feel great. Not just great….super awesome! I don’t want to hear about so many deaths due to heart attacks and diabetes anymore. That is why I do what I do every day. Because I want YOU (yeah, YOU) to finally feel the way your body was intended to feel…absolutely incredible!

What is your worthy goal?

My goals have changed significantly as the years have gone by. Here are a few examples of some things that were important enough to me to finally do something about my weight and my health:

19 years old – I wanted to date good looking and in shape guys (we’re being honest here right?). However, when you have acne all over your face and you can barely squeeze into your clothes, this may not become a reality. I cared enough about meeting Mr. Right that it really drove me to stick to my healthy eating and exercise plan.

22 years old – I started my career as a nutritionist and personal trainer, but I still didn’t look the part as best I could. I wanted to be a positive influence on my clients, not only by my words, but by how I looked. Would you listen to a nutritionist that looked unhealthy? I wouldn’t!

26 years old – My mom’s health became so bad that she was put on dialysis treatments. I didn’t want this grim reality to become me some day. I wanted something different for myself and my future family. This truly changed my perspective and outlook on health and nutrition forever (for the better, of course)

31 years old – Pregnant with my first child. Since my first goal worked so well and I did marry Mr. Right, I am now awaiting my first kid’s birth. Knowing that what I put in my mouth affects how my baby’s organs, brain and little cells grow is enough reason for me to keep it healthy.

What is your worthy goal? What would make you feel so motivated, so driven, so passionate about finally taking the necessary steps to make losing weight a reality for you? Finding Mr. or Mrs. Right? Being a positive influence to your family? Changing your family’s “bad” genetics”?

Here is your chance to tell me and the whole world. Post your worthy goal on my blog and maybe your goal will be the inspiration someone else needs. Or better yet, maybe you will find your inspiring, worthy goal by the influence of someone else.

Who loves you enough to give you that kick in the butt? I do, of course.

In health and happiness,

Isabel De Los Rios
www.TheDietSolutionProgram.com

  

Don’t you just hate it when people ask you what your New Year’s Resolution is? “It’s to solve world hunger, now let me be.”

I’m sorry, I don’t mean to be such a crab but it just bothers me when I share my goals with people and they tell me “Oh, do you really think you can do that?”

Unfortunately, I think that happens to a lot of people. You tell your family and your friends that you are going to do something great and they then spend the next 10 minutes telling you all the reasons why you can’t do it. Huh? That doesn’t make any sense.

I’m here to tell you, that if you can think it in your mind, it is most definitely possible for you! I don’t care how big the goal is, how impossible it seems, or how many times you’ve tried before. “Whatever the mind of man believes, it can conceive” or something brilliant like that spoken by someone brilliant.

Do you know how many times Henry Ford went broke before he succeeded? 5 times!

Do you know how many people told Walt Disney he was crazy before he succeeded? Just about his whole family (and then some)!

…And do you know how many people have been telling you it’s “just too hard” to lose weight and get healthy? I predict at least 10 minumum (if not more).

Here’s what I want you to do (I mean I really want you to do it). I want you to set a goal so incredible, you are just going to amaze yourself and everyone around you when you get there. Now, stop thinking about all the reasons why you can’t. I don’t want to hear those reasons anymore. I want to hear why you CAN!

Here is how you will make it happen:

1. Write down this goal in detail. This is a must! I have yet to accomplish any goal without having written it down first (and that includes my 30 lb. weight loss goal). I want you to write it in as much detail as possible “I am going to lose 20 lbs and fit into my size 8 jeans. I am going to feel so lean and healthy and confident each day” and on and on I want you to write. I want you to write until you can practically feel what it would feel like to reach that goal.

2. Read your goal every single day. Not only do I want you to read it. I want you to feel it. Look, nobody is watching and I didn’t say you had to do this in the middle of Central Park. You can read and visualize your goal in the privacy of your own home.

3. Believe it is possible for you. Why can other people achieve their goal weight and the bodies they want and you can’t? Genetics? I don’t buy it. No time? I don’t buy it. No money? I don’t buy it. Go ahead try me….I don’t buy it!

I know what you are capable of because we are all capable of the same thing. To live life in the healthy bodies we know we were supposed to enjoy.

Now you tell me. What’s your New Year’s Resolution? (Oh, come on. You knew I was going to ask).

Post your resolution right here in the comments section and let us all keep you accountable this year.

Oh, and you’ll never guess what mine is going to be this year…Stay tuned.

In health and happiness,

Isabel De Los Rios
www.TheDietSolutionProgram.com