Mentally Exhorting

My body has officially finished the winding down stage.  Today, is my liquid only day.  Starting off early this morning.  I'm off so this will be challenging, but also mentally exhorting, instead of mentally exhausting. A couple days ago a regular customer of mine told me he quit smoking. I was so happy for him.  I often tell smokers that it's mental. They think this girl has no idea what it's like to be in "my" shoes because she doesn't have this "bad" habit.  Many of those customers will go on to tell me they quit for a year and picked the habit back up.  However, they're forgetting that it's not the habit that is the struggle it is where they have positioned their mental state.  If you continue to think that a cigarette (insert your "bad" habit) is going to make you feel better, then in you're mind it does.
As I went on to congratulate the customer for his great achievement I decided to ask him "Do you think it's all mental?" His response "Yes!"

I'm here to tell you that it is the same in weight loss or in any "bad" habit you face.  It's all about choices and the decisions you make.  I never thought I'd see the day I'd go without food or abstain from ABPS (alcohol, breads, pasta, and sweets.) I mean my happy foods were breads, cakes, candy bars, debbie cakes, rice crispy treats, and need I make myself look more greedy!?  It was something I looked forward to and got excited about the very opening of a box of Oreos.  However, now God has positioned me to a new level of thinking. 

Most people will tell me "you don't have to do all of that."  Well, they're right, I don't, but I want to.  There comes a point and time in you're life where you decided to challenge yourself.  I've told many of my friends time and time again my weight loss journey is not just that, but it's spiritual too and it's also apart of my relationship with Christ.  How?  Well, God gives us the desires of our hearts, right?  Well, this is one of my desires.  Also, keep in mind I initially began this weight loss journey to enter the military.  This is still my main focus, but also I enjoy it.  I feel better inside and out.  I'm also more motivated and willing to help others with the same weight loss journey when I put God first. 

That takes me back to the mental exhorting.  By praying I'm able to encourage myself and depend on God that he will help me achieve this desire.  It is not God's will that we be defeated in anything.  He loves us. He will keep our mental state (thoughts) on the right path, if we just seek Him, be vulnerable, and ask for what we desire.  God will guide us.  For some of us it's guiding us straight to the gym or for other's it might be guiding us away from the 7-11 to pick up a pack of cigarette's.  Whatever your "bad" habit is God is here to mentally guide you.

Thanks for blogging with me.  I hope this helps.