Living A Healthy Lifestyle VS. Failing Another Diet

I’ve always felt like I’ve struggled with my weight or struggled with my confidence of what I think I looked like. It wasn’t until I got into running in 2004 that I really started to feel more confident about who I was and where I was going and how I perceived myself.

Since coming off the road in 2000 from playing 200 shows a year, my life took a better turn in some respects but health wise, I actually got worse. In a four year period I gained 45lbs and it wasn’t 45lbs of muscle either. I was traveling still, but not as much, eating out constantly and sitting in meetings at Starbucks a few times a week. Today I’m healthier than I’ve ever been and still about 20lbs away from where I want to be to race well. The difference is I have a lot more lean muscle mass and a lot more endurance than the average person.

The difference for me came when I decided that diets weren’t for me and trying to attain a certain weight wasn’t my thing.

Why?

I always quit to early or if I hit a certain goal I slowly went back to old habits. It was as if I was saying to myself… “ok, you are here now. You met a goal. Now what?”

Ah! Good question! Now what? Heck if I know! Let’s EAT!

That’s when I started to figured out that if I want to be healthy, feel healthy and look healthy then I need to change my lifestyle, not just my diet.

So I did.

Slowly.

I’m still not the healthiest eater but it’s under control now more than ever. Most of our meals are made at home and there are certain foods I tend to stay away from. Foods I don’t need, don’t make me feel well.

I’ve placed myself in a situation that holds me accountable by association. Does that make sense? I am surrounded by those who are very aware of what’s going into their bodies and that inspires me to treat myself better.

Also, I found a way to have an active lifestyle in a sport I love. Triathlon. I can go run when I want, bike when I want or jump in the pool. For some of you it might just be one of those… or it might be hiking, golfing, racketball or tennis. Whatever it is… it’s active and gets the heart pumping.

This way, if I want to be better at the sports I love to be active in, then it’s worth it for me to take care of my body in way that I can enjoy it’s benefits even more.

It’s a lifestyle now… not just a diet… not just a fad… and not even close to being an escape from life’s normal responsibilities.

It’s my responsibility to be as healthy as I can be for my wife and kids. For my job performance and the people I work with. For the relationship I have with my friends and family… and for those I want to inspire to get off the couch and do what seems to be the impossible.

It’s the clear mind I love having and the ability to feel grounded in who I am now.

Knowing that I am confident with who I am and how I perceive myself.

Who cares if I’m a little heavier than I was 10 years ago…

I feel better than I’ve ever felt and my outlook on life is healthy.

So the question for you is this.

What will it take for you to change your lifestyle to be a healthy one? What are the benefits you experience from living a healthy lifestyle?

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Category: LIFESTYLE
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  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1545132575 Russell Brown

    My pastor pointed this out to me and I couldn’t agree more. I’ve lost 170 lbs (since April 15, 2011) and still working on a bit more. I ballooned up to over 400lbs and for 10 years (after football) I bounced from fad diet to ‘failed’ diet over and over. This year I made it a commitment and fell in love with running which lead to better eating, as a lifestyle. When I started eating healthier I just set some common sense rules (no seconds, 90% water, ‘God made foods’, etc) and that is how my family and I now live our lives (wife is down 65 lbs since joining me in May). 

    There are no shortcuts that work, there are no magic pills. Eating as God originally intended is the only way to get your life back in balance, as well as getting active. Great post, great perspective. 

  • http://www.facebook.com/jacquie.parella Jacquie Parella

    The timing of this post could not be more perfect. I’ve lost 100lbs and still have a ways to go. Thanks to some friends telling me I could do it when “experts” said no — I ran/walked my first 1/2 marathon a few weeks ago.

    Since then though I can feel my old self creeping in, my eating has been off and I feel bad. There is NO WAY I am going back to who I was before and I know I have to set new *specific* goals, have a training plan and accountability to keep moving forward.

    Reading about your journey has really helped me this morning. It also helps that I am surrounded by a team of marathoners, bikers, and iron man people at work. They have inspired me to be a better person in an area of my life that I have failed at and been afraid of. I won’t quit!! :)

  • Rachel Hauck

    Great post! I’ve been contemplating this very subject lately. I am more concerned about what comes out of my mouth than what goes in, but I think I can do better in some areas.

    I love to work out and go to the gym, but when I’m on deadline, all life but writing stops. Or just about.

    I think it’s good for me to keep doing what I can when I can. And make a few healthier choices on the “weak” days.

    Rachel