It seems impossible to think of losing over half of me. I’ve tried and failed time after time, on program after program, yet here I am, back on the weight loss band wagon again.
While the doctor has a long term goal for me that seems as insurmountable as climbing Mt. Everest, my short term goals are simpler, SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, timely) little steps as recommended by Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS).
To help with accountability, my local TOPS group has us put our personal weekly SMART goal in writing during the meeting, and then gives us recognition if we achieve the goal by the following week.
I decided my 1st week SMART goal was to memorize the TOPS pledge. I printed it out on little slips of paper, and placed them in the car, on my desk at work and home, in the bathroom, and the kitchen. I put the words to music and sang them. I meditated on them, I let them sink into the depths of my psyche and challenge my way of thinking.
It starts with, “I am an intelligent person”. Sometimes I feel like I’ve got all my marbles intact, other times I feel like a total nincompoop. I found this affirmation hard to say at times. I have to remind myself that while I may not be the brightest bulb in the vanity, God designed me with a brain to meet every challenge I would ever face in life. OK, I can make myself say it and believe it. “I AM an intelligent person”.
The next phrase is, “I will control my emotions and not let my emotions control me”. Now this is a huge challenge for me. I’ve long known that I’m an emotional eater. The only way I could say this part so that I could believe it was to add my own preface to the sentence, “with the help of God.”
The following 3 pledge items really sent me into self examination as I committed them to memory. “Every time I am tempted to use food to satisfy my frustrated desires, build up my injured ego, or dull my senses…” Yep, that’s me with a huge history that shows on my huge frame how many times I’ve used food to deal with my frustrations, stresses, and hurts.
Finally the pledge ends with commitment to my actual plan of action. “I will remember, that even though I overeat in private, my excess poundage is there for all the world to see, I will Take Off Pounds Sensibly”. I have it memorized now. It's in my head, and working deep into my heart. A mantra, not just to recite at the beginning of a meeting, but daily, hourly, minute by minute when I need to overcome those urges and the poor eating habits that have led me to the shape I'm in today.
TOPS PLEDGE
I am an intelligent person. I will control my emotions and not let my emotions control me. Even though I am tempted to use food to satisfy my frustrated desires, build up my injured ego or dull my senses, I will remember, even though I overeat in private, my excess poundage is there for all the world to see. I will Take Off Pounds Sensibly.
TOPS PLEDGE
I am an intelligent person. I will control my emotions and not let my emotions control me. Even though I am tempted to use food to satisfy my frustrated desires, build up my injured ego or dull my senses, I will remember, even though I overeat in private, my excess poundage is there for all the world to see. I will Take Off Pounds Sensibly.
