When it comes to making a drastic lifestyle change to get healthier and lose those unwanted pounds it’s a good idea to establish your “Why”.  Knowing why you are making this change will be what keeps you motivated when the going gets rough and you feel like giving up.  Your “Why” needs to be more than just looking better, it needs to have some depth to it.

My “Why” goes something like this: (1) I felt convicted that I had let myself get to the point of being so overweight.  I felt like the Lord was saying, “Your body is a temple of God and look what you’ve done with it”.  (2) My health had been declining for the past 10 years and I needed to make an effort to help myself.  (3) As strange as this may sound to others, I began to think of all the terrorism in the United States and what would I do if I had to move quickly to protect myself or someone I love.  I wouldn’t have been able too since I was so huge. (4) Last but not least, I wanted to look good for my husband.  A lot of times when we get married we feel like we don’t have to maintain our looks like when we were dating.  In fact, it should be the opposite.  We should try even harder to be the best we can be for each other as partners in life.  Be healthy and live a long happy life together.

So my challenge to each of you today is to find your “Why” and let it motivate you.  When you have a long journey ahead of you like I did, I found myself looking back on my “Why” and didn’t want to let myself down.  Ultimately your lifestyle change has to be for you, but it can also be so you can live longer and spend more time with family and friends.  Reaching middle age has opened my eyes.  Looking back I can see where I could have lived a healthier life and prevented a lot of the health issues I’ve faced.  So if you haven’t begun your journey to a better you, I want to challenge you to let today be the first day for a better life.

If you so desire, I would like to invite you to post “Your Why” in the comment section and help me motivate others to start the journey today.

*Please note:  I am not a medical professional.  I am sharing what worked for me.  It’s always best to check with your physician before beginning any change concerning your health.