I have the control (for better or worse)

Truly, health requires a lifestyle change. It’s not a combination of diet or exercise program.

It’s WHO I MUST BE. Part of who I am. It’s how I behave, and what I must do. How I think. An attitude shift.

It’s got to be mental and physical. Being and doing. Thinking and acting.

A lot of times, the people who are most miserable (or worse, who are misery carriers — the kind of people who make OTHER people miserable) are the people who think and say:

“Well, this is WHO I AM. I can’t help it, I’m just like this.” Often followed by such lines as, “Get used to it,” or “Deal with it,” or “I wouldn’t be true to myself if I changed.”

Which is all well and good if the behavior or personality attribute isn’t negative to self or others. But if it is, then it’s just pure, selfish sentiment.

I can’t help it if I like the color green. I can’t help it if earthworms and slugs ick me out. I can’t help it if I’m a Caucasian female.

But I CAN help how much food I put into my mouth, and what kind of food it is. I CAN help how active I am, how I behave on the job. I can control my attitude with self-talk, cheer myself up when I’m glum, take positive steps to either correct or accept negative actions or consequences.

There were influences that helped me get as fat as I am, but I was an accomplice. I might not be able to control all those influences, but I can control my response.

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