You Have to Decide

I used to think that thin, fit people were just blessed with great genes.  And while that is true for some people, like my college roommate who could put away two fried sampler platters from Applebee's and then slip into her size 6 jeans for a night on the town, its not the whole story.  Since beginning this weight-loss journey, I've started observing thin, fit people. Yes, they splurge and eat sugar.  But just enough to satisfy their sweet tooth.  Yes, they grab a bag of buttered popcorn on their way into the movie theater, but it is the smallest size and they are sharing it with their thin, fit friend.  For someone like me who hails from "eat the whole bag in one sitting" stock, this is a revelation.  And for me, its really hard to do.

Being in boot camp has helped clarify some things for me.  The women I attend class with are fit, yet still working at it.  You don't ever reach home base, wave to the crowd and say, "Well, I'm thin and fit now - no more need for eating well or exercise!"  If I am to become truly healthy and drop this weight for good, I have to decide that this is a change in life style that I must make for my entire life time.  I know it seems obvious - especially now that I write it down - but I see now that most people are thin and fit because they chose to be. 

P.S.  I wanted to add that one of the major contributors to obesity in our country is a systematic socio-economic situation that deprives many Americans of healthy, fresh food.  There are places in this country where it is simply not available.  It's far more economical for some families to eat at the McDonalds around the corner than drive one hour or more for a grocery store to buy expensive produce.  Obviously, my post isn't the whole story (it never is).  You have to decide to be fit and healthy.  But it also helps if you have access to healthy food.