Cut Yourself a Little Slack for Weight Loss Success

All too often we expect perfection of ourselves. Why is it that we are able to cut other people some slack while never giving ourselves any?

For we "perfectionists" this is true in many, maybe even all, aspects of our lives...whether it is getting straight A's in school, landing the best job, getting the best review, having our house be immaculate, always eating healthy food or having a 6 pack ab body...we strive to be better and better...sometimes--often--better than is humanly possible.

Yes, we want to be the best we can be...but that does not mean that we must insist on perfection. By aiming for perfection we are bound to disappoint ourselves which only sets us up for self-criticism and doubt.

Just for today, try to be a bit more gentle with yourself. Whether it is about the cookie you ate that you "shouldn't" or that you lost your temper or you were late or your house was not perfectly tidy. Do your best where you are right now

Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.

By Don Miguel Ruiz from his best-selling book "The Four Agreement".

At the end of a one day workshop a friend of mine ruefully mentioned to me that she couldn't attend the upcoming multi-day workshop because of the cost...I reminded her of the same principal--do what you can right now. Take what you learned today and apply it. Integrate it into your life. Trust that when you are ready, you will be able to attain the next lessons you need. Whether they are this particular workshop or by some other means.

It is the same with our health and fitness goals. If we truly want to have success with weight loss, then we must start where we are. Move forward every day, integrating what we have learned...opening ourselves to learn new things in the process.

Will we have some set-backs? Very likely! Some days we will "be better" than others...and that is okay. Look at the overall path and see if you are heading in the right direction...if you are doing the best you can at every moment then you can not NOT reach your goals.

Cut yourself a little slack and find yourself on the path for permanent, healthy weight loss--without dieting. It is a change of your mindset, and it works! Do the best you can today and every day...and you will find yourself in a healthier body before you know it!