Copyright 2002
We've discussed setting goals and making plans here. I'm finding I have secondary goals, motives that may not be a positive influence on my ultimate goals of maintaining a healthy diet and attaining a healthy body weight. November 19, 2000, Jane Brody quoted from a book I coauthored, The BDD Workbook, http://marvelite.prohosting.com/bddworkb... in her column in the New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2002/11/19/health... Needless to say, I was excited and grateful that so many people would be exposed to the idea that perhaps a more balanced body image would lead to a healthier lifestyle.
Then it occurred to me that, even after coauthoring The Habit Change Workbook http://marvelite.prohosting.com/habitcha... and The BDD Workbook, I too might have an imbalanced body image. Was I a fraud? I had thought I was satisfied with my looks, comfortable in the body I had. But reading our words quoted in the New York Times, I realized a part of me strived to attain the type of body our popular culture calls "beautiful."
Over the last couple years, I've lost 30 pounds by eating healthy (most of the time) and exercising 2-4 times a week. It's been a gradual weight loss, then recently it seems like I've reached a plateau. I still need to lose six pounds to reach a healthy weight. I think it could be the lure of having that "beautiful body" rather than a healthy body that could be getting in the way of losing those last few pounds. I may be letting competing motives keep me from reaching a healthy weight.
I can relate to Apostle Paul's lament in Romans 7:15 when he says, "I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do." (New International Version) Part of me says, "I want to eat a healthy diet, exercise and lose weight so I can have more energy, live longer and be healthier." Another part of me says, "I want to look good." But then, how good is good enough? Size 12? 10, 8? Is it realistic to expect a flat stomach on a 48-year-old?
When I listen to the smart voice that wants to be healthy, I'll stay motivated because it's realistic. It's doable; I'm successful every day that I eat healthy and exercise. When I listen to the other voice that wants to look good I tend to give up. I don't think I'll ever be a size 8 again, or have a flat stomach. Why try? With that motive and attitude, I'll surely not lose those six pounds. Not only that, I'll probably gain back the 30 pounds, give up on the exercise, and eat whatever I want. A third voice will emerge, one that says, "Why bother? I want my chocolate! All of it!"
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