A Little Fear

 We all have hidden fears. And I'm not talking about a terror of heights or arachnophobia; I'm talking about an emotional quandary, one that keeps you desolate and isolated from life.

   When I was in my dark period, I had many uncertainties, elevated by the pain of my obesity. I was the King of "I'm gonna," and my fear controlled me; they gave me excuses, reason's to not do the right things at the appropriate time.

 "Dan, you can't do this or that until you lose the weight," I would tell myself, and well, what were the odds of that happening? Sound familiar? Worse yet, I believed all the lies, used them even, to hold me back, confirming their truths by hitting the very next MC-drive-thru, often twice a day, just to be sure they were set in stone. 

 I wasn't gonna do a thing, not ever. I was lost, and I was my own worst enemy.  

 Are you yours? What fears are holding you back? Is it walking in to that gym, heavy, and alone for the first time? Are you wondering what people will think, if they'll stare? Or, are you worried about food? What can you eat? What can you not eat?

 How about, dying? Are you worried about that? Now that's a fear I can get behind!

 When I talk to individuals dealing with obesity, their biggest concerns are about food and support; can I have pizza, or what if I fail, what will they think?

 It's normal to fear losing that comfort we get from both family and that friend (aka) FOOD. Honestly, I'm still concerned about food today. Recently TL (my angel) and I were shopping at a country store, looking at fresh fruit and veggies, when I glanced into the refrigerated section, and there it was, my weakness, a big jar of local dairy chocolate milk! My mouth began to water, but there were many more stops to make and the summer sun was blazing; there'd be no rich creamy goodness today. 

 This caused me a great deal of stress. I found myself obsessing about it for the remainder of the day; would it still be there when I went back? Who knew! The uncertainty was nearly debilitating, and I began to chat TL up about all sorts of topics--the sun, the chance of rain, the music on the radio, anything--to distract my mind off what I was missing, never explaining to her what this chatter was really about, because how do you explain to a person with an average relationship with food what it feels like to obsess over food itself?

 There are no words. It sounds crazy, even to me, and I live it! 

 Ironically, it's that relationship with food, or the fear of losing it, that can actually cause us to pass on what needs to be done today until tomorrow. But unlike Scarlett from "Gone with the Wind" (Yes. I pay attention now to famous literature) tomorrow is NOT another day! We are guaranteed nothing.

 The Phrase "Face your fear" rings true to me.  We must attempt to better our lives, because friends, the fear will always be there. There will always be someone saying, "Don't do this," or "You can't." So, lets take a leap of faith, and ask ourselves the "what if" questions. Like what if I do, and what if I make it? What if it works? If the answers to these questions are pleasing then there's only one option--you must try!

 I thank God everyday that I overcame my fear and walked into that fitness center at Hagerstown Community College. Imagine if hadn't? Imagine what could have happened...imagine what could have been? 

 Wait a minute, I don't have to imagine, because I did try. And I did it!

 Now it's your turn. What's holding you back? Certainly not a little fear........PEACE

Dan

Backsliding : For Better or For Worse!

The struggle is ongoing. For many, including myself, there is never a day when the job of losing weight is just DONE, a goal that's perfectly met.

Never. It's a daily fight. And the raw truth is that backsliding is part of the whole experience! Why? Because people suffering from obesity have a relationship with food; emotional, intimate and personal, and daily life can trigger a need that most of us struggle to control.

Some of you reading this right now may not have such a relationship, you just need to drop a few pounds--good!--but to those that view a meal as a social event, often their only social event, and can point out the best burger joint in a four town's radius, without thought, then accepting such a truth is key!

I am such a person. I have a relationship with food.  I was 650 pounds! I lost 350 pounds. In the years that followed, I gained some back and lost it again, thankfully.

My story is true for many; it's the real fight for those of us whom battle obesity. The question is what will we do with this truth, do we let our relationship with food beat us or do we find a way to control it, expect it to creep back and be ready for its return? Many will remain in denial about their relationship with food, and some won't survive their first backslide. They'll accept defeat like one accepts their ancestry; if you're Irish, you're Irish, if you're obese, well, you're just obese. You can't help it!

 False. Do not pass GO.  

Have a plan, friends! Don't borough in the sand and start a journey without a plan for setbacks, because trouble will come. And a once cultivated relationship can bring back those old habits. The foods that comforted you before will call out to you, threatening your health.   

Expect it to happen. Be ready.

Whether this is your first battle or a battle you've forged before, fighting is our only choice! It's the winner's choice.  It's a survivor's choice.  

Just this morning, I was sitting alone on the couch--TL had just gone off to work--and I was thinking about the future, where I want to be and what I have to do to get there, and I looked over at the TV and saw a gentleman from a reality weight loss show, speaking about his big win and how he was now famous. My heart became fearful for this man whom seems to have missed the lesson of the journey!

What had he learned, about himself? What will happen to him when the cooks and the trainers all go home? How will he handle his first set back? Can he do it with the cameras off and only himself cheering him on?   

Overcoming obesity means preparing for a long fight, my friends. We have to do it without a million dollar prize waiting and be ready to discover many truths, about ourselves and how we got here. We have to wake up every morning and hit that gym floor, or step outside for a good walk. If we really want to achieve a healthier life, we have to commit to it! Not for a few months but forever.

We have to take all the ups with the downs, recognize setbacks and see the hurdles, while still moving forward with confidence. We cannot beat ourselves up nor set unrealistic goals. We must kick our own self in the butt, foresee old habits returning and fix them when they do! We must find others that support our efforts, lift us up, not down. And mostly, we must spread this message to all those suffering, that there is hope where they once believed there was none.

No single fight is the same. No one person can do it perfectly. Every day is a good day to start.

PEACE

      Dan