The Gift of Real Change
The best gift you can give yourself that impacts your health is not found under a tree or contained in a package you open during a treasured holiday celebration. The best gift you can give yourself that does not cost a lot of money but has a tremendous impact on your ability to live a healthy lifestyle is the gift of real change.
About 14 years ago I weighed over 300 pounds and desired with all my heart to lose weight. I found it tiring to walk, loved eating junk food all day long, and tried diet after diet without success. Instead of eating a healthy breakfast, lunch, and dinner, I chose to eat brownies for breakfast, candy as a snack, and ate fast food almost every day.
The majority of diets I tried did not focus on real change, healthy lifestyles, or teach me how to follow a healthy eating plan. Instead, those temporary diets enabled me to lose a few pounds which sadly seemed to jump right back on my overweight frame the minute I stopped following the program.
I vividly remember losing about 20 pounds on a popular diet plan. Although I still weighed over 250 pounds, I just knew that I had my eating habits under control. The fact that I gained those 20 “lost” pounds back in just three weeks proved to me that I had not.
After years of obesity, I finally looked myself in the mirror and acknowledged that silly diets or temporary fixes would never lead to effective weight loss. I committed to myself to make a real change that involved changing my lifestyle permanently for the better. None of my friends, my family members, or myself realized what an impact that small decision would make.
Although there are many ways to successfully lose weight, I decided that the best thing for me to do was follow a simple, three-point plan I came up with. I chose to eat a diet with about 30 percent of its calories from healthy fats, watched my portions, and committed to regular exercise.
The gift I gave myself that day was two-fold. Not only did I commit to living a healthy lifestyle rather than following a goofy diet, but I also gave myself the gift of better health and drastically improved fitness. Over the course of 14 months, I lost 158 pounds and gained a healthy perspective on food.
The real change came from within. Sure, I started having healthy cereal for breakfast more frequently, and stopped eating fast food every day. But the real change came when I transformed from the inside out. I finally understood that living a healthy lifestyle wasn’t about just losing a few pounds, but rather a healthy lifestyle was a permanent way of embracing healthy eating, committing to regular physical activity, and making an impact on my friends and family’s lifestyle.
Here at the beginning of a new year, I’d encourage you to make one positive change each day that helps you lead a healthy lifestyle. Replace a refined grain with a whole one, take a 30 minute walk instead of watching a mind-numbing television show, or make healthy adaptations to a favorite recipe. While none of these changes on their own will cause you to lose weight, each real change you make takes you one step closer to giving yourself the gift of healthy living.
Be well!
Diane
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Jan 11, 2012 @ 03:18:00
No matter which blog I find you on, you are still beautiful! I’ve been seeing your before and after pictures for a couple of years now and they still take my breath away. You are such an inspiration to so many people including ME!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:41:00
Thank you for your kind words.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 04:26:00
I’m already a follower of your blog and find you inspirational. How did you manage to STICK with your new plan once you started? I’ve started a ton of new plans, some goofy diets and some my own plans that were actually very sensible. I’d lose weight initially, sometimes up to 50 pounds, and then it would stop. Plateau for months! I couldn’t stick it out through that, and I’d always give up. How did you manage to lose that much in only 14 months? Weren’t there any long plateaus?
Jan 11, 2012 @ 05:36:00
Thank you Ruby! I, like you, had tried tons and tons of diets, but couldn’t stick with any of them. When I finally started to lose that last time, it wasn’t with a program, but rather just changing my thought pattens surrounding food, making sure I controlled portions, and exercised. I had come to the point where I was scared for my health and that gave me a lot of incentive to not “cheat.” I didn’t have any long plateaus – I think the longest was a few weeks. Plateaus are not fun, but I tried to look at them as ways to refine my eating habits towards more healthy foods and ramp up my exercise. You can do this – just one good choice at a time.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 05:03:00
I wish I could plant this seed into the heads of every man, woman, and child in the nation Diane — you are to be applauded. I’m becoming more and more convince though, that this type seed can’t be planted. I belive they are contained within and can only be cultured to germinate by the environment. In that sense, what you do is very important. Unfortunately people like you and I are only a very small part, if any, of the environment for the people who need us most.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 05:38:00
You are probably right on a lot of levels Roy, but I do believe that everyone has that seed within them – it just takes a different approach for some people to finally realize that the right amount of healthy foods and exercise are all it really takes to change. I think a lot of people make this process so complicated that it becomes overwhelming. I know I believed that for a long, long time.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 05:50:00
So great to see you here Diane & you know I am so with you. I started my journey many moon ago!
BUT the key is to keep on learning & trying. I have done that & made improvements as I age… for me, a journey that never ends & I am fine with that! 
Like Roy – I always try to pass on the love to all I am in contact with!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:41:00
Well said Jody – never give up is another mantra of mine!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 06:54:00
Wow!! I used to be overweight too…I quit getting on the scale at 180 pounds. I just gave up. I agree with you completely – real change comes from the inside out.
People ask me how I did it – I have to tell them it was simple because it was. I stopped putting unhealthy food in my mouth. That created the space for the change to take place. Notice I didn’t say it was easy….I said simple. There’s a big difference.
Thanks for your honesty.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:40:00
There is a difference between simple and easy. I applaud you for making that change! Sometimes when I tell people how I lost the weight, they almost seem disappointed as if they wish there were something more “exciting” about it!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 07:50:00
You have set a wonderful example for others, Diane! Both in that it can be done, but perhaps more importantly, how to do it! Bravo!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:39:00
I appreciate your support as always Dr. Jayh.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 08:57:00
Wow Diane, this is an amazing and inspirational story. Deciding to make that change is something that can carry over in so many aspects of life too!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:39:00
You are right Alisa – these types of internal changes do not just apply to weight loss, but rather to business situations, career choices, family, and well – everything!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 09:08:00
I always enjoy hearing your story and agree with your conclusions. I believe that’s about the only way I’ve managed to maintain my losses – the habit changes enacted for losing weight were ones I was willing and able to keep afterward, and so the wight hasn’t come back on.
My struggle seems to be with dropping it, not keeping it off, and so for that I am quite grateful. And while I have had to go a bit more dramatic to achieve losses than I’d generally recommend others attempt, knowing that I have the tools in my toolbox already for maintaining my losses is really comforting.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:36:00
You are lucky that you find the maintenance portion of this journey slightly easier than the weight loss portion. I have been surprised at times that maintenance was as painless as it has been – I attribute part of that to the changes I made, and the very real desire to not go back to the life of obesity.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 09:11:00
beautiful! thanks for this inspirational post!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:34:00
Thank you – I hope you have a great week.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 09:21:00
“The real change came from within.” is exactly right. While I’m not yet at my goal weight I know that the reason I have continued to work towards a healthy weight is because of real changes that have taken place in my thinking.
I also see that those who keep the weight off are like yourself, Diane, making real change deep inside in conjunction with following their plan of choice.
Thank you for reminding us the greatest gift we can give ourselves is a change for the better; and for showing us it is possible to lose weight and maintain the loss.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:34:00
Leah – it sounds like you have a great mental attitude toward this whole process. I found that as my body changed externally, it helped cement those internal changes that I had already begun.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 10:15:00
That is wonderful! It took me a long time to finally be mentally ready to lose weight. I used a popular online plan in 2009 and lost about 50 pounds over about 14 months. After a stress-filled and much more sedentary 2011 (and stress-eating), I have regained some of that back, but am hopping back on the band wagon because after the first weight-loss, I now know myself better and have no excuse for relapsing into old emotional habits. Thanks for sharing your story!!! It is definitely an encouragement!!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:33:00
I so appreciate you sharing Katy. It is so easy to regain weight, but you are doing the right thing by not just accepting it, but rather committing to getting back to a healthy weight! I wish you the best of luck.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 13:23:00
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story! Like you I have tried a number of diets with modest success, followed by a quick retreat to old habits. I too believe it has to be an internal, self-committment to change your life habits…what you eat, how much you move your body, etc. You have to do it for you.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:32:00
You are so right Donna. If you are trying to lose weight for others, it will be a more difficult journey. You have to change those habits and learn to love yourself enough to permanently adopt new ones.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 13:30:00
Thanks for the story. It is such an inspirational, true-to-form help!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:31:00
Thank you Jennifer for taking the time to read and leave a comment.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 14:01:00
What a great inspirational story! I have changed mentally since August and have adapted a moderate active lifestyle of exercising 4-5 times per week, no sodas, no sweets….but still working on portion control and more nutritious choices….which I’m finding is major hinderance. I am really intrigued with your method and enjoy your posts. please check me out every now and then at http://www.bosschickgetfit.blogspot.com
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:29:00
I will check out your site Gailya – thank you for sharing your experience. I really didn’t use any “tricks” when I lost weight – I, like you, made the choices to eat nutritious foods and being ultra careful with portions.
Jan 11, 2012 @ 14:36:00
I’m so proud you Mom!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:43:00
Aww – thanks!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 14:40:00
I love this post! You are an amazing women with an inspiring story. I have been trying to lose weight and I am very encouraged by your story. Thanks!
Jan 11, 2012 @ 18:44:00
Thank you – I’d just encourage you to never give up on yourself and focus on nutritious food and regular, consistent exercise. The rest will likely fall into place!
Jan 12, 2012 @ 12:22:00
I am finding this to be so true, that the change is in me, not just in what I eat. Thanks for this column today. It encourages me to keep on keeping on.
Jan 15, 2012 @ 13:33:00
Your absolutely stunning!!! I just love reading your story.
Jan 22, 2012 @ 07:55:00
You are an inspiration, You give me hope to take it off and keep it off!
Jan 27, 2012 @ 23:31:00
You are such an amazing success! Thanks for sharing your story so honestly with us. A true help to inspire others to make healthier choices.