Have you ever started something with great enthusiasm – only to get discouraged along the way and just quit?
This 1 attitude adjustment stops quitting once and for all so that you can finally obtain the results you want.
This is going to save you a lot of time and frustration!
Attitude adjustments come from simply learning to ask yourself the right questions at the right time.
I had to do that just the other day. I was about to do one of my hardest workouts. The urge to skip the workout was strong.
Now it wasn’t a recovery day, which is a good reason to take a day off. Those are days in which you don’t feel well physically and need to take the day off to recover.
No, I was just feeling lazy.
But I gave myself a reality check with this 1 question:
“Do you really want to start this over or just continue what you’ve already started?”
My mind flashed back to 15 years ago.
Back then, I weighed over 200 pounds and could barely walk to the mailbox.
I remember having shortness of breath and feeling as if my muscles were filled with concrete.
I remember the effort it took to get to this point. I feel good, healthy and strong today because of all the workouts I did from that point until now.
Because I continued.
So it was no contest. I did my workout.
Haven’t you found that it’s easier to continue something rather than have to start all over again?
The biggest energy you expend is moving from doing nothing to doing something. Even if you can only do a little bit, be faithful to do your bit.
Eventually, you will get stronger and can do more.
Even if you stumble in your efforts, don’t quit. Proverbs 24:16 says,
For a righteous man may fall seven times And rise again…”
An old Japanese definition of success complements this scripture:
Fall down 7 times, get up 8″
- Check your thoughts
With negative thinking, you always want to ask yourself another good question:
“Where are these thoughts leading me?”
If your thoughts are leading you where you want to go, then keep that thought pattern. But if they are not, take those thoughts captive and replace them with thoughts that take you to your desired destination.
Philippians 4:8 says:
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.”
- Take heed daily
To help yourself continue on your path rather than quitting, keep this scripture in mind every day:
Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Corinthians 10:12).”
Taking heed is just another way of saying “pay attention.” This is wise advice in your faith and in your weight loss plan. You must meet each day on its own terms. Each day has its own challenges to meet and problems to solve. That’s what makes the Christian life exciting!
Create systems to keep yourself on track and help yourself remember why it is important to you to live healthy and fit.
- Write your vision of how you want to live as a healthy and fit person. Review your vision in the morning and use it to encourage yourself. The choices you make that day will move you closer or further away.
- Keep healthy foods close to you.
- Keep the foods that tempt you to binge and make you feel bad far away from you.
- Use an app or notebook to write down your food intake and the exercise you did to stay aware of the daily choices you are making.
- If you make a mistake, don’t let the experience go to waste; write down what you learned and what you plan to do differently if that situation occurs again.
Remember that you are living your life, not living a diet.
Your eating and exercise plan should serve you so that you can live a fruitful life in Christ – every day.
Be blessed in health, healing, and wholeness,
Kimberly Taylor
Author/Christian Life Coach of the Take Back Your Temple program
P.S. The Bible gives us a prescription for change in Romans 12:2:
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
It would be nice if our mind was renewed automatically when we accept Jesus as a Savior. But it is not. We must take the initiative to cast out old, self-defeating thoughts and replace them with thoughts that are consistent with God’s word.
Only then can we experience new life in Christ.
In the Take Back Your Temple program, you’ll receive several resources that help you renew your mind to God’s thoughts about health and wellness. If you are ready to experience God’s best in this area, I urge you to join us in this unique program today!
Thank you Kimberly- I’ve had a few actual falls recently and so thankful I was not seriously injured. The Lord has brought these times to mind, so much so, I’ve been writing them down. He’s kept me from harm and during the falls, it’s as though he was with me, lifting me back to my feet. I am so grateful for his protection and provide 24:16 is a good reminder of how he wants me to continue in this life healthy and well. God is good!
Amen, Sister! So grateful for the Lord protecting you and keeping you healthy. He is good!
The enemy has me feeling defeated and lazy. I try to continue because I always cook healthy breakfast & lunch but by dinner, I’m craving my doughnuts or fast food. He makes me feel overwhelmed with home life and before I go to deal with it, I eat.
Hi Jelissa – I am praying for you. The good news is that you can always choose a different route to handle your overwhelm – if you want it.
Here are two articles that may help:
God’s Appetite Suppressant
I Don’t Feel God Loves Me (some good advice against the enemy’s lies)
God bless you!
Dear Kim, I’m so thankful for the computer. It enables me to ‘listen’ to your encouraging words, which help me grow and change. Thank you so much for your wise words, they are truly changing the way I think, which changes the way I live, which is pleasing to God, blesses my life and my family’s. I wish you lived next door, but next cyber door works well too. I look forward to ‘visiting’ with you. Blessings to you and yours, and hugs too. 🙂
I appreciate your encouragement too, Debra. The Internet is a wonderful blessing because we can encourage each other in God’s life changing WORD. May the Lord continue to bless you abundantly.
This article is sooooo timely today! I exercised 3 days last week. I was in a VERY lazy mood today but my conscious kept kicking me. I thought about the progress I’ve been making and buyjng a smaller size. I don’t want to go backwards. SO, I did a 2 mile walking video tonight. I can now go to bec with THAT Off my mind. God is good. THen, to top it off, this popped up in my inbox tonight to read. THank you Lord for sending me reinforcements. GOd is fabulous.