Seems like an obvious question doesn’t it?  Scratch beneath the surface and you will find your true motivation that will keep you dedicated until you achieve your goal. I know it’s difficult, but these days it seems that you can’t turn a magazine page or change a channel without seeing an emaciated, skinny person touted as being the image we should all aspire to. The media images we are fed are false ideals, this is certainly not how regular people look neither should we be forced into a mold to achieve it.

We are all different and the world is a richer place for it.

• Just because we may not be 100 pounds, leggy, 5 feet 11 inches tall, doesn’t mean that YOU are not beautiful. Just because we don’t fit into that template of what is deemed beautiful by an industry obsessed with perfection doesn’t mean that we are incapable of being beautiful and looking our best. If you are carrying excess weight, losing some of that weight will peel back the layers and reveal your true physical beauty lying hidden beneath.  You will unearth your beauty like chiseling away at a magnificent Michelangelo sculpture, pound by pound.

You are your own masterpiece, you can and will look great!

Coffee raises your body level of cortisol which is a stress hormone. According to Dr. Nicholas Perricone, cortisol is essential for maintaining homeostasis during acute forms of stress like fear, physical trauma, and extreme physical exertion. Cortisol levels increases with age and breaks down tissue.   Cortisol is also known as the “death hormone” because it is catabolic, which means it breaks tissue down. When cortisol levels are high, the body breaks down muscle to convert it to amino acids.

Simply put, cortisol is not a good thing. High levels of cortisol (which may be triggered by drinking your morning coffee) will increase body fat, thin the skin, cause depression of the immune system, elevate blood sugar, cause bone loss, and kill brain cells. Further, cortisol raises blood sugar, which in turn raises insulin, resulting in the storage of fat in the abdominal region. This fat leads to a higher risk of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Instead of coffee, drink green tea. It contains many antioxidants called polyphenols which have great health and beauty benefits, and has been proven to stimulate weight loss.

Why Do You Want To Lose Weight? Seems like an obvious question doesn’t it?  If you  take the time to scratch beneath the surface, you will find your true motivation that will keep you dedicated until you achieve your goal. Here’s a few to get you started:

• I want to lose weight because I want to gain a healthy respect for my body

• I want to lose weight because I want to live longer for my family and friends

• I want to lose weight because I want to enjoy life more and my current weight restricts me

• I want to lose weight because I want to feel great about my myself and my appearance

• I want to lose weight because I want to travel and enjoy all that life has to offer me

• I want to lose weight to have the strength and energy I need to enjoy life

• I want to lose weight so that I can be an active participant in my own life and not just a spectator

Now it’s your turn.  Think of something compelling and deeper than your usual New Year weight loss resolution.  Something that will keep you grounded and anchored to your purpose.

If you are carrying excess weight, losing some of that weight will cause you to peel back the layers and reveal your true physical beauty lying hidden beneath.  You are your own masterpiece and as you lose weight, the thin person inside you will be exposed.