Why this time?

I haven't talked a lot about the GAG Challenge however I'm still participating and hanging in there. For our most recent challenge, we were given some questions to answer - if we wanted to - and I thought this would be the best question to start on:

What makes this weight-loss effort different than any previous attempt?

Sheesh... where to start? Where to start?

• It's all about me this time. Previous weight-loss attempts were always started (and failed!) because someone else wanted me to lose weight - doctors, family members, friends, society, jobs - but this time, I was the one who wanted to do it. ME! Something just clicked one day and I was on a mission to get back to my previously healthy self. And so I did it for me and I've kept it up and off for over a year. Previous attempts only lasted a couple of months and those couple of months would be so stressful, I'd give up even if I lost some weight. If I wasn't doing it for myself, there wouldn't be anyway I could have kept the weight off.

• This is a lifestyle change. Not a quick fix. And I finally get it this time. From the start, I viewed each habit change as a tiny step to my ultimate
  
  destination a nd I took each step one-step-at-a-time. This allowed me to change each bad habit and turn it into a good one. It can take days, weeks, even months to change some habits (hell, I'm still working on some now that I started over a year ago)! In other words, I didn't expect to lose weight and keep it off if I only temporarily changed my bad habits, I had to change them for good.

• Shifted my focus from "lose weight" to "get healthy". The scale still mattered and I used it daily as a form of measurment, but it wasn't the only form of measurement I used to gauge my progress. I realized that I didn't want to just lose weight but I wanted to be fit, healthy, and I wanted to put on some serious muscle! I educated myself with books, magazines, even the internet, and learned what a healthy diet consists off - no restricting carbs or counting points or having prepacked food mailed to me - just fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and whole grains. Something we learned back in elementary school, right?

• My heart is actually in it to win it. I've said it time and time again. The weight-loss journey needs to be something someone does for themselves (kinda ties into my first point about it always being about you) and not anyone else. During all my previous attempts I felt "programed" to follow a certain diet, eat certain foods, eat at certain times, stay away from carbs, count your points, etc. I was following the diet just to follow it... I didn't want to do it but I was still looking for that magical diet that would make me lose 10 lbs. in the first hour! This time around, I didn't even start with your typical "diet". Instead I educated myself on proper nutrition.

These are the main reasons why I know this time is different, but I really, truly know this time it's sticking with me. I know that's a little premature to say only one-year into this journey, but it just 'feels different'. I have the support of family and friends and a wonderful boyfriend, Anthony, who goes on all fitness and culinary adventures with me! Pair that with my new-found self-confidence and I have a winning combination to keep me on track.