Hey Guys,

Just wanted to touch in today on what it takes to Lose weight. Last week in total I lost 3.4 KG (about 7 odd pounds) which is not a bad week. I did however have touches of errors or mistakes in what I ate and did. Parts of the week which were not great. But I still got a good result. Although it could have been better.

It have got me to ask the question What does it take to lose weight?

Like myself many of us that have been overweight time and time again start a diet and do not end up being able to handle it to its full ability. We struggle and go back and forth and eventually give up.

This year has been different I have accepted that I am going to F#@* Up many many times before the year is out but I still have a firm and set goal in mind of what I want to achieve.

A line from the Slow Carb Diet Bible (The 4 Hour Body by Tim Ferris) talks about a guy who lost weight by just starting to track his weight loss on a Excel Spreadsheet.

In a way that is what I am doing via this blog and daily weigh ins. It is keeping me focussed on my goal. I do not always do perfectly but I know I am going in the right direction. I have periods where I go up and down but never up to where I started.

I am at a point where I am interested in really focusing on that weekly figure. That Monday Morning Weigh in. That is the number that counts. If I have 5 Great Days and 2 Not so great days and lose 1 – 2 KG. Then I am happy. If in a week I put on weight then I am angry.

So let me ask the question again. What does it take to lose weight?

In my Case it comes down to 3 things.

1. A Burning Desire
I am really sick of being a Fat Bastad. I am sick of bullying myself and saying that I am fat. We live in this PC world where you don’t get picked on as an adult. Everyone is nice and kind to you. But inside I used to find myself picking on me. I would tell myself I was not good enough. Or I can’t do that. Im fat. Or why diet you can’t change.

Which is all Bull S#*@. I can do what ever I want. I can beat the demon in myself by having a big enough desire. For me it is going to Hawaii and looking great by the end of the year. It is sitting on a Beach going wow. I remember when I was a beached whale. Now look at me. I want to stare at myself in the mirror and go wow Hot Stuff.

But most of all the desire is there to turn to the bully in me and say. There I did change.

2. Accountability 
One of the reasons I used to fail in my opinion is I would do 1 week or 1 month diets with no true plan in place. No line in the sand with what it takes to succeed. So when something went wrong i let it and blamed the diet.

I am reading a book called The E-Myth Revisited it is a business book but makes a really great point about why some businesses stay small and some grow and kick ass. The main point is that the ones that succeed spend time to build a greater overall plan. They do not just plan until the next Invoice period. They know where they are going in 2 or 3 years.

This apply so so much to losing weight. You need to set a goal you think is realistic then put the timeframe out at least a year. As the difference to yourself if I say Lose 20 Pounds in 2 Weeks or Lose 80 Pounds in 12 Months is a huge difference. It takes a weight off your shoulders. It is one of the huge drivers in where I am today. Do I really care if it takes a year when I have been overweight for 15 years….. No.

3. Forgiveness 
This may be one of the biggest reasons people stay overweight. It is alright to make mistakes, You are destined to make mistake after mistake in every part of your life. The quicker you forgive yourself and get back on that horse the quicker you will lose weight.

I have made 1000′s of mistakes this year. Time after time. Some I seem to repeat on a regular basis. But I am still on track. I know I will reach my goal. You just have to remember to forgive yourself. Sadly beating yourself up is not good exercise.

Summary

Decide if you have what it takes to lose weight. Spend some time sitting down and making that decision because if you don’t then it is not worth starting. You are better to just make a few health changes and live your life. As if you are not willing to focus and follow the above (or similar principles) I will promise you that it will end up being a waste of time.

But if you are willing to take on the Challenge. You are in for a fun filled Journey where you can only Succeed. I wish you good luck.