“Low Key” Diet

We have all heard the many types of diets that are out there.  There is low-carb, high protein, veggie only, crazy lemon juice detox diet (I tried that once and hated everyone who breathed for the 7 days I was on it).  Well, are you familiar with, or maybe you are on it now, the “Low Key” diet?  For those who may not understand what I mean by “Low Key” I am referring to a “low profile, not too many people know about, because I don’t want them to judge me in case we go out and I want to eat a double chili dog with cheese fries with a 78 oz. supersized coke” kind of diet.  Basically it’s a convenient diet that lets you eat what you want, whenever you want, with absolutely NO accountability. 

I was on that diet quite a few times (except I didn’t eat all that food and I don’t care for chili dogs).  I would tell myself in the morning “I am going to eat well today.”  Then I would go to a conference for work that day and when lunch was served this is what went on in my brain:“These sandwiches are so good; they aren’t too unhealthy either.  I just need to add mayo because dry sandwiches are nasty.  I need chips; I can’t have a sandwich without chips.  OOH Snap!  Hold up!  I CANNOT possibly pass up the chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, I mean I don’t even like oatmeal cookies but this one is so soft and good!  This is a non-profit and they REALLY went out of their way to get this meal for us, I have to eat it.  Besides, nobody here knows I started my diet today so I can start again tomorrow.”  Have you been there before?  Are you there now?  It’s crazy how easy and quick it is to fall off of the “Low Key Diet” (by the way I made that diet name up, it’s not on Google, I checked!). 

The way I have defeated the “Low Key” Diet is by challenging myself to be vulnerable to you and accountable to many.  I have decided to make a lifestyle change, not just go on another diet.  I have told everyone I know and MANY I don’t know what my intentions are.  When I visit family they all know, when I go to work they all know, when I go out with friends they all know, my desire for freedom is no longer a secret!  This is something I struggled with before I started WSWE; I realized I wanted it to stay a secret because I knew I would cave in to the pressure of food.  I also secretly  feared I was going to fail so the less people who knew about it the better!  Obviously we all know how far that got me! 

My Mission Statement for WSWE is “Choosing to lead a healthy lifestyle through high accountability and transparency in hopes of inspiring others to do the same.”  If you are on a “Low Key” diet then I challenge you to end it now.  You may not be an extrovert like me and I surely not saying to go write a blog called “What Size Was Mary.” What I am saying is you should write down your goals (long and short term) and if you trust one person then ask that one person to walk this journey with you, if you are close to twenty people then ask them all!  You need people praying for you and walking with you in this journey.  Accountability is an important piece to a successful day, week, pound and ultimately your success.  Since starting this blog I have felt a very strong sense of accountability and when I mess up I feel worse.  I know people are watching and asking questions, but guess what?  I’m on my journey and that’s a victory!

My challenge to you today is to first determine in your mind whether you are on a “Low Key” diet and decide if you are ready for a lifestyle change.  Next, be accountable to those around you and strive for transparency in your journey.  I tell you this, my friend, because you do not know who is watching and you may be the ONE person that can inspire someone to change their life!

If you do not know where you stand with this whole weight thing and you feel uneasy and almost uncomfortable reading some of this, it’s probably because you need support in this area.  I remember feeling uncomfortable with my good friend Delia because she wanted to talk about healthy things and I wasn’t healthy anymore.  Or the couple times I would secretly be jealous and almost sad when  an overweight friend of mine would lose weight, it wasn’t bad that they lost weight, I was sad because it wasn’t me.  If you have those feelings in your heart then please write your goals and ask those who love you to help you get there.  I know what those thoughts and emotions are like.  But I also know there is a God who can turn that jealously into healing and that anger into victory.  There is nothing “low key” about losing weight…It’s Freedom.  YOU can do it!  I am doing it! I am not done yet, but I am a lot closer than I was.

Be encouraged today…We can do this…The best is yet to come!

Madelynn

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.” John 8:32