The energy spent on learning to accept their obesity would be better placed on accepting where they are TODAY, admitting they can do something about it, then mustering the courage to do it. Weight, for most people, does NOT belong in the acceptance category. Being short or having big feet or missing your big toe deserves some acceptance – not much you can do about those things (at least given today’s medical technology). Weight is something you can do something about. Get it?

Catch yourself in those moments when you are about to beat yourself up – times when you should be admiring your accomplishments instead (and maybe some of them aren’t on the scale – maybe you can do a push-up now – or maybe you can walk up a flight of stairs without wheezing to death).  Health isn’t a race and there is no finish line.  You are on this ride for the rest of your life.  Live in a way you can comfortably handle until you slide off into the grave.  Let your body be a natural reflection of that lifestyle.  Get it?

Feel happy that you are learning what it takes to run your own body.  You are at the wheel – driving the bus, not your body.  YOU are in charge.

via Be Happy Today.

Shannon is so right when she talks about learning what it takes to run your own body. Everyone’s body is different. I constantly have to remind myself when I am at boot camp and I see my workout family and their accomplishments.  We are all at different points in our journeys – there are basic principles and practices we all follow, but the paths are not the same.

I was watching The Biggest Loser last night and the guy who hasn’t been able to walk up a flight of stairs in forever finally broke through that barrier and not only did he take one step after another, he looked like he was gliding.  Even though he didn’t lose a ton of weight that week – his grin was as big as he used to be.  He acknowledged that he was reclaiming some power over his own body  – which was a HUGE win in his fight.

Yet another example that it really is the small decisions, the small changes, the small acknowledgments that make all the difference…