Risk vs. Reward

“The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.” -Leo F. Buscaglia

Risk vs. Reward

Every day we make choices in our lives based on the Risk versus the Reward we’ll get for doing it. Are you taking risks in your life?

Can you imagine the horror I felt of getting into a swimming suit at 250 pounds and going to the local community pool? I shudder just remembering the anxiety and pain I felt. It was a huge thing for me to do that.

I did it anyway. I decided “Who cares what people think? I want to swim.” So I scurried into the pool as quickly as possible and guess what? Once I was in the water I never felt self-conscious. I am so glad I took that first step, that first risk, because I never would have lost 100 pounds had I not risked everything.

I was nervous about signing up for Hood to Coast. I doubted my running abilities–especially the closer I got to the Big Day! I am SO glad I took the risk!

I completed Hood to Coast RUNNING. I may have injured myself a week later, but I ran (no walking) the whole damn thing. 🙂

Risks of Losing Weight

Risk: Losing Friends

Shedding extra weight can have a negative impact on your relationships with other people. Especially those who also have weight issues. I’ve written about this before. Not everyone will join you in your journey to a healthier you–but if they don’t, were they really your friends to begin with?

• Is my partner going to leave me if I lose weight? (Don’t let someone else keep you from doing what is right for you!)

• Will my friends disappear if I get healthy and they don’t? (Yeah maybe you don’t go to happy hour once a week anymore, how about getting your friends to go for a walk instead?)

• Will family support me or sabotage me? (Stay strong!)

Be prepared for these scenarios so that you aren’t surprised if they happen. If people make snide comments about getting healthy–be prepared with a polite comeback. And remember: you are changing your life for the better and that is a GOOD thing. No matter what snide comment someone might make; they are just jealous of your determination.

The real friends will be there no matter what you weigh.

Risk: Being Called “Selfish”

People are pretty ingrained in their routines and lives and any change causes distress for some people. If you suddenly want to start eating healthy and working out, expect some blow-back from family. If your kids are used to eating junk food and suddenly there’s none in the house…will they throw a tantrum? Probably. Is it good for them? For sure.

Expect guilt trips. When Michael and I first started dating we spent a lot of time together like most people do in new relationships. I tried to balance my time with Michael and other friends with my workout routines. There were definitely times when Michael would tempt me into skipping the pool and instead hang out with him. And of course I wanted to spend more time with him so I felt guilty and I felt torn between the two “loves.” We eventually found a happy space and he realized how important fitness is for me. He knows that I will workout and that it makes me happier if I do–in turn, he’ll be happier too because who wants to hang out with a cranky pants?

Michael never complains about me working out now. When I go to the gym he uses that opportunity to watch sports on TV (because I never want to). And I make an effort to do activities that we can do together! Everyone is happy.

Risk: Failure

So many times I said “I just CAN’T lose weight” or “I’ve tried everything!” But I really hadn’t tried everything! In fact, I hadn’t sincerely tried at all. But if you never even TRY that’s a failure!

“There is no failure except in no longer trying.”  ~Elbert Hubbard

Reward

The reward is so sweet. Sweeter than overindulging in chocolate ice cream and feeling guilty afterward. The reward was so worth it for me! What rewards are you looking forward to getting?

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.” -Andre Gide

QUESTION: So what risk are you going to take today?