D.I.Y.O.

I spent most of last weekend working on a DIY project. I bought a credenza at an estate sale and it needed some serious TLC.  It was so glorious to sit outside, bask in the sun, getting my DIY on- LOVE it! As I sat there, I began to think about how my weight loss journey has been very similar to a DIY project. For me, DIY projects have a few things in common- 1) they always take longer than I imagine they will…2) there is usually more work involved than I planned on…3) I want to fast forward to the end, skipping the hard labor to enjoy the beauty of the finished product.  

Usually, a DIY project begins with a less than perfect object that has potential. Well that was certainly me at the beginning of my journey. I needed to take a hard look at myself to see that I am FAR from perfect, but filled God-given possibility. The first thing I did with the credenza was clean it off, it was filthy. Got me some old rags, some warm soapy water and went to town. This made me think about my decision to begin a healthy lifestyle. Once I recognized that I had the power to change, and made the decision to change, I needed to clean up my act, starting with my bad habits.

After I got the credenza spic and span, I began to sand it. Sanding is one of my least favorite jobs. It’s hard manual work and there’s no way to get around it. And to do a project right, you should actually sand a few times, in between the primer and pain coats to get the best results. Sanding down old habits can be just as tedious. Just when you think you’re done sanding- whammo- you find another thing you need to change. Sometimes we get splinters, making lifestyle changes can be painful, both mentally and physically. Much like how I feel about sanding a piece of furniture; recognizing, acknowledging and changing my habits has been the most tedious and laborious part of my journey.

Even though sanding can be tiresome, there’s nothing like starting with what feels like an almost new piece of furniture. I used some wood filler to fill in the rough patches and now it’s nice and smooth.  Filling in the gaps between the old and new me is when the fun began. Finding new activities I enjoy, trying new healthier foods, stepping out of my comfort zone, building new friendships.  It feels so great to fill myself up with things other than food!

Coming to the end of the DIY project, I layered on the primer before the gorgeous final top coat. As we make positive changes in our lifestyle, we begin to layer our healthy habits to build something lasting and substantial.

And finally, the sweet reward! I love putting on the final coats of paint and adding personal details to make it my own.  The same thing can be said for my weight loss journey. I’ve taken the Weight Watcher’s program, tweaked it to fit my lifestyle and made it just right for me. One of my favorite things about a DIY project is the beauty that comes with reinvention. Years from now, someone might find my credenza, see its potential and start to give it some much needed TLC.

D.I.Y.O (doing yourself over) is a life-long process and investment that require some serious sweat equity, but the end result will be SO worth it! Something beautiful is waiting to be created in you!

Ask for help. Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Continue with courage.

Hugs and friendship,

Tara