Having goals is an amazing thing, everyone should have personal goals that they've set for themselves. I believe and find that goals are motivators, reaching those goals and milestones that I've set for myself is what makes me excited to wake up in the morning, fuels everything I do, and keeps me excited for the future.
One of my current goals is to lose weight. I have always had a struggle with my weight. As a tall, broad female in today's world, it is easy to find yourself disliking your body shape and how you carry your weight. I was on the right track for a long time, my freshman year of college. I was determined to beat the "freshman 15". I worked out; watched what I ate. Slowly, I began to see the body I didn't like very much turn into a body I was proud of. I have always been an athlete and was empowered by knowing I was strong, but there was always a little pudge I wanted to get rid of. Then, over summer, my birth control went haywire on my body and hormones and made me gain 30 pounds in three months.
This sudden weight gain was horrible not only for my physical health but my mental health. I was no longer going out with family and friends because I didn't want anyone to see this new body I was in. I wore the same three outfits that still fit and covered my "problems areas". I was miserable.
I tried getting back into health and fitness but nothing ever worked because I did it for the wrong reasons. I didn't want my boyfriend to be embarrassed to be with me, I wanted to make people like me because I was skinny in societies eyes. Then, I realized something. This was never going to work because I wasn't doing it for me. So, I sat down and made a list of reasons that I wanted tools weight that sole pertained to myself and had no insinuation that they were for anyone else. It was completely selfish and completely necessary.
It worked amazingly. I am so much more motivated and consistent because the changes I am making are for me. It is ok to be self-centered when it comes to your goals, you won't succeed if you are living to please other people. Weight loss specifically, you need to do it for yourself, your health, and your mental state. I am not saying you shouldn't be happy in your body, you should. If you have no qualms about how you look and you don't want to change a thing, that's amazing and I am proud of you.
But, if weight is something you think about constantly in a negative way and it is impacting your daily life, you need to do it for yourself. You have the right to live the life you want to in the body you think you deserve, but you have to put in the work. Your mind and body will thank you. If you are in the same boat as me, I wish you nothing but success on your journey. If you're not, I wish you nothing but success on the other goals you have set for yourself. Here's to being you.