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Integrity

and Weight Loss

Before we share on this subject we encourage each of you to read the following Special Reports:

You may wonder why we recommend reading the other reports when we are talking about Integrity and Weight Loss. The reason is because all of the other topics are actually related to this topic. If we are going to walk in integrity, we are going to need to trust God, others, and ourselves. We also will need to be willing to go through some pain as we face our own lack of integrity at times. For some, there maybe some points in this article that may stir up some emotions and you need to be careful that those emotions don't cause you to want to do things that will sabotage your weight loss. For others, there are some areas we will cover in this report that will bring up past wounds and it is helpful to make sure you are walking in forgiveness so that you don't go to food because you feel angry, bitter, etc.

The first thing we should do is look at the definition of Integrity:
a. firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values
b. an unimpaired condition: soundness
c. the quality or state of being complete or undivided: completeness
synonym-honesty

With the above definitions, some of you may already feel challenged. These are some very clear definitions of integrity. If all of us are honest, especially those who have been dieting for years, these definitions can be very challenging. Don't let those definitions scare you. Remember, everyone of us fail at times.Thin for Life is not about perfectionism or performance orientation. That is another report we should do-'Perfectionism and Weight Loss'.

There is a saying that says "if the shoe fits, wear it". There may be some things that we share that may be applicable to your own life-acknowledge them-wear the shoe. However, do not dwell on the negative. Instead make a choice to work on the flaws of your life. A person of integrity is not perfect. Rather they are a person who is willing to be faithful and committed to making necessary changes in their life.

In general terms, integrity is being honest with others and ourselves. It is about being faithful to what we know is true. Also, being committed to doing what is the right thing to do. Being undivided in purpose to lose weight permanently.

For some who are dieting, they have a hard time with being honest with themselves and others. They find excuses for poor decisions, wrong choices, and living by feelings instead of what is true. Deep down they may know they are making excuses, but they they try to confuse themselves that they are not making an excuse. If a person is walking in integrity they will not try to find an excuse for not doing what will be helpful. Here is one excuse I hear people say all the time, “I did not have time to..." It is true that some people are much busier than others. But if a person has a full-time job, married, has kids, etc. and can still have time to do certain things to help them lose weight, then just about anybody can find time to do some beneficial things to help in weight loss. Many times the issue is not time, it is being lazy. Or feel hopeless. Or, if really honest, it may be that they rather overeat than lose weight. Instead of being defensive a person of integrity will admit that they fall short, they were not being honest, and will work on doing things differently. Again, being a person of integrity, does not mean being perfect.

Here is another example. A member says they are not going to use the Food Journal because it is too hard. (Yes it takes awhile to figure it out-which can take some time at the beginning). But they have never taken the time to read through the instructions. They never read the FAQ’s. They will not follow the instructions that are given to them. So, is the issue that the Food Journal is too hard (we have computer/internet challenged people figure it out), or is it that the person does not what to become aware of the 'bad' foods they are eating, or how much they are overeating? A person of integrity will ask themselves this question, "Why am I not willing to learn how to use the Food Journal. Why will I not ask for help to use the food journal?"

Remember, a person of integrity is committed to doing what is right, and gives undivided attention to a purpose-losing weight permanently. They also firmly adhere to a set of principles. So, let's apply this concept to Thin for Life. At the Thin for Life, there are the 5 Essentials to Weight Loss-Healthy Eating, Physical Movement, Nutritional Support, Proper Hydration, and Curative Sleep. There is also the whole-person approach to weight loss. There are the Membership Benefits that help to apply these principles. At times members will say I am doingThin for Life, but it is not working. They need to be honest with themselves. Are they firmly adhering to the principles? Are they working on all aspects of the their life? Are they using all the Membership Benefits? Are they walking in integrity regarding theirThin for Life membership?

Again, we are not talking about perfection, performance orientation, no room for error, shame or condemnation. Those concepts will hinder and thwart weight loss. We are talking about taking small steps in the right direction. We are talking about being honest with ourselves. For many, they have been judged, condemned, and criticized for so many years by others or themselves, that it is hard for them to be honest or to even read the above information. Please understand that none of us walk in full integrity. What is important is that we desire to walk in integrity and we are taking steps in that direction.

If we make an effort in walking as a person of integrity regarding our goal to lose weight, we will be able to conquer an enemy of weight loss - self-sabotage. If we are doing our best at living a life of integrity, we will not be condemning ourselves and will be able to have hope that we will lose and keep off the weight. So there will not be as great of a desire to self-sabotage. Be sure to read the Special Report on Self-Sabotage and Weight Loss.

If this information stirs up shame, guilt, condemnation, hating yourself, anger, resentment etc. this may be a sign that you have not resolved past issues in your life. Maybe, you were told all your life that you are a failure, your 'not good enough', you need to try harder, you have no integrity, etc. If so, you need to receive healing from the past. One of the steps for healing to take place is forgiveness. Be sure and read these two reports, so you start to be free from the past. Forgiveness and Disordered Eating and Forgiveness Principles.

Remember, integrity does not come overnight. It is a process. It takes time to develop the characteristics of being a person of integrity. Don't be too hard on yourself. Don't beat yourself up. Give yourself grace. But remember, no excuses. Give your best, realizing you will fall short at times.

Are you starting to see why having integrity is important for weight loss. The more we walk in integrity, the more we will be able to look in the mirror and love the person we see. The more we love ourselves, the more we will do what it takes to help us lose weight. The more weight we lose, we love ourselves even more. What is great about integrity is that if we are doing all that we can and not losing weight, we can still love ourselves because we know we are walking in integrity and that sooner or later the weight will come off. When we want to quit, we won't, because we want to continue to walk in integrity.

As we close this report on integrity, how about making a vow to yourself that you will be a person of integrity. Don't worry about the past failures, start fresh. Tell yourself, "I will be a person of integrity. I am going to take positive steps towards being a person that is honest, faithful, and committed to the principles of Thin for Life. I am going to make every effort to use all the membership Benefits. I am going to work on all aspects of my life.