Don’t Tell Me What I Can’t Do!

By , SparkPeople Blogger
I love the saying from the television series Lost that character John Locke always repeats, "Don’t tell me what I can’t do!"  I think that’s part of where I got that attitude from.  That saying just clicked with me.  I think it’s because I was told that I wouldn’t and I couldn’t by so many, but then I did! 
 
What did I do?  I, and believe me this is a miracle, lost 150 pounds and went from bedridden to able to walk a bit, longer with a walker.  The pain is still frightful; however, where there is a will there is a way.  You should always discuss your pain with your doctor.  Even if they are less than receptive, they need to hear your needs.  If at any time you are told "Just lose weight," ask them how to deal with that when you can barely move.  If you’re dismissed as a whiner, find another doctor!  There are medicines, physical therapy, and other tools available to you to help you through the pain so that you can move.  There are even assistive devices, like canes, walkers, shower benches, heavyweight lifestyle websites, among other things to get you up and moving.
 
Magazines and some doctors will have you believe that only their recommendation of exercise is right for you.  Some of these articles are written by athletes for athletes or at least for the skilled exerciser.  What about articles for people who live a very, I mean very immobile lifestyle?  Starting out small at 1-3 minutes may be a huge step!  It was for me.  It also helped me build up to longer sessions and more complex exercises.  Every exercise session, even the 1-3 minute ones, do something--they prepare you for what is next. 
 
What if you are afraid of failing another time?  I know that fear so well.  In fact, for a long time I quit trying to lose and just resigned myself to my 460 pound situation of being stuck in my bedroom because I had that much trouble walking.  It seemed scarier to lose weight again and gain it back for all to see, than to just be fat in the first place.  The truth was, I needed to stop dieting and come to a real lifestyle change.  In the past I always jumped in with both feet and burned with passion until I couldn’t go on any longer.  Now I do things slowly, like I’m on vacation cruise.  There is no hurry.  I’ll get there, enjoying the scenery along the way.  Sure the boat is going to rock a few times, that’s what they do, but they don’t sink because of a few waves.
 
You know the truth, just like I do or you wouldn’t be reading this and I wouldn’t be writing. We both need to be healthier.  We have to find a way to do it within our unique lives.  We have to take that first leap of faith and believe we can change and reach our dreams.  We need to take baby steps and go on to write the next chapters of our lives and end the ones where we damage our bodies.  Don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do that.  Those baby steps may seem trivial to onlookers, but they are mighty!  They are life changers.
 
So many on SparkPeople ask me how I lost 150 pounds and the honest answer is "Choice by choice."  It wasn’t like I woke up with the answer.  It started with lifting shampoo bottles as weights in bed, and continuing moving up to an arm cycle, then to recumbent machines. It took drinking organic milk at first and then splitting meals and ordering small or medium on up to eating from small plates and increasing veggie and fruit intake.  It took not listening when the doctors and my husband said that I wouldn’t be able to achieve what I have.
 
I hope that you remember to:
  • Take things slowly and deliberately.
  • Believe in yourself. 
  • Take advantage of any tools possible to get yourself moving.
  • Never give up.
  • Never ever let people tell you what you can’t do.
 
Don't put your thoughts toward what might have been, put your energy into what is possible.
 
What are some things you are holding yourself back from because you believe you can’t but instead just haven’t to build up to it yet?