In 2013, I lost 90 pounds.  It honestly changed my life.  That weight always held me back – basically everything I was eating was eating my self confidence. Lately though, I’ve been acting more like “old me”.  I decided that before things got too far off course, it was time to take my own advice regarding lasting change.

1. Listen to your heart – Only you can know if you are truly happy with your life the way it is.  Ask your brain?  Sometimes our minds are good at telling us what we want to hear. Instead, listen to your heart. The answers may surprise you.

2. Leave the past behind – Close the door on past failures; they’re only relevant if you allow them to be. To truly believe you can succeed, live in the present, and look to the future.

3. Learn what recharges you – Find the thing that gives you back your energy (hint, cookies are never the answer!).  For me it’s Zumba.  I have to say that, given my general inability to dance (seriously), I would have never imagined that Zumba would be the one thing that could always bring a smile to my face. Keep an open mind and try lots of different things  – eventually, you’ll find your “thing”!

4. Live your change – There’s no end date to what you are doing.  Enduring change means just that – changing your life and incorporating new habits and behaviors forever!

5. Lift your body – Lift your mind – There really is something to this “sweat every day” concept. I place a lot of value on the strength that I gain from exercising. Sometimes when I’m facing an intellectual challenge, and I’m pretty close to saying “I can’t do this.”, I’ll think about something demanding that I’ve done at the gym. I’ll find myself thinking, “Wait, if I was able to do that, then I’m certain I can do this too.”  It’s one of the things that pushes me to be physically active almost every day.

6. Let others in – Believe me, I’m not suggesting that you share anything you don’t want to.  That said, if a friend or family member wants to support you on your journey, let them in! It could be a real plus for both of you.

 7. LEAD yourself down the path to change. It’s your life, your mind and your body. You have to be in charge.  When you accept this leadership challenge, it will change your life!