This might seem like a strange topic. Perhaps it is but I have come to realize that my biggest reason for failing at dieting is my own stubborn perfectionism. For a long time I did not really think that I was one of those people that had to have things perfect.

I mean one look around my house would tell you that. Kids stuff everywhere, something unseen holding up this box I am yacking at and the peak of Mt. Washmore getting ready to go through the roof of the laundry room.

Then one day I realized that the reason that things were this way was because I had adapted an attitude of “if I can’t do it all the way, why do it all”. This is not a good attitude to have. Lots of work and many moons forward I was able to over come the evil monster of perfectionism that was cluttering my house.

Since starting this new journey I have been doing some looking within. I see now that every time I have started a diet or exercise plan I have set myself up to fail. I laid everything out to the extreme and did not allow any room for me to be human. I had to do the plan PERFECTLY or I was a failure.

Eventually this led me to a point in my life that I gave up trying all together. I adapted that same “if I can’t do it all the way, why do it at all” motto. As you can imagine with that motto came pounds, more depression and more isolation from the world. Feeling like if I could not do something as simple as eat what is written down then I am really not capable of anything.

So what is different now you might be asking. Well I can’t totally put my finger on it but I would say that the motto is being deleted from my mind. I have made some rules for myself that are required:

1. I will focus on the things I achieved not those I haven’t yet achieved
2. Fail is no longer a word that I use
3. I will pick up right where I am to move forward not looking back
4. I choose to be joyful no matter what life throws my way

Is it working? Well I don’t know for sure yet, check back with me often to see. I can tell you that I feel great and I don’t feel discouraged in the least. I have chosen to let go of being perfect and just be happy with being me and doing the best that I can do! The weight of diet perfection has been lifted off of my shoulders, it might not show on the scales yet but it will!

Remember live for each moment and embrace the love of those around you.

posted by Lee Ann at 8:00 PM