We're all susceptible to occasional plateaus in weight or motivation. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle takes endurance and commitment. However, there are ways to fight against discouragement, stay committed, and endure in health for the long run. In today's post, I'll share some tips to keep motivated and commit to a healthy, lifelong lifestyle without getting discouraged.

Don't Trust Everything You Think!

To succeed at long-term healthy living and avoid discouragement, we must regularly challenge our thoughts by holding them to God's truth. Ask yourself, "Is this thought I'm having true? Or is it influenced by what I'm seeing, hearing, or believing from social media, TV, radio, or even the company I'm keeping?"

Consider how often you use the phrase "I feel.” You may be surprised at how often you use it.

I feel chubby.

I feel ill-equipped.

I feel alone.

I feel unattractive.

I feel unappreciated.

If left unchecked, the "I feel" statement can become your native tongue.

I am not saying that those feelings are not real, but they may not be true. The most effective way to get out of discouraging thoughts is to simply confess, "Lord, I don't feel the truth of who You say I am. Will you fill in the gaps where my feelings fail me? Will you convince my heart and cause me to see myself like you do?" Let the TRUTH free you from discouragement and keep you on track.

Use Multiple Measures of Success!

To avoid frustration and discouragement, include multiple sources of measurement when trying to achieve a healthy weight and lifestyle. Different measurements provide a more comprehensive perspective on your progress. The scale's weight fluctuates based on hormones, salt, or other factors. Scale weight is only one way to determine success. There are other factors to consider, such as sleep, energy, digestion, and mood. Overall well-being includes all these components. Consider all the factors at hand to maintain consistency and fend off discouragement. Your weight, size, and even appearance merely provide a limited view of your health. For long-term success, it is imperative to consider other factors. Taking small steps can be the key to long-term success. Regularly checking in on yourself and your progress helps you to stay motivated and on track. Take time to acknowledge and celebrate any progress, improvement, or victory!

Ditch the Pursuit of Perfection!

In the past, I bragged about my perfectionism, as if it were an altruistic quality. Now that I am older and wiser, I shake my head. What was I thinking? Perfectionism leads to stagnation, self-centeredness, or a complete standstill. Being a recovering perfectionist, I struggle with the temptation to believe the "be all, do all" lie, but grace helps me learn self-acceptance. I mean, duh! I'm not Jesus.

When we chase perfection in our pursuit of health, our priority is men's approval over our dependence on God.

We must remember that our imperfection is the reason we need His perfection. The burden of maintaining a flawless façade is exhausting. It's a burden we can't bear. Our pursuit of perfection is fueled by fear. We fear we might be discovered, others might not approve of us, and we fear falling or failing. Fear is not from God. We must shift our perspective on our perceived shortcomings and flaws to break free of perfectionism. When we find the courage to be authentic about our need for the Author and Perfector of our faith, we move from self-focus to savior-focus. What an exchange! The heavy yoke of perfection, traded for the light yoke of grace and permission? Yes, please.

From my experience, I can tell you that if you struggle with perfectionism, ask God to rewrite your script. He will change what is in your heart and mind. When we learn to embrace our story and health journey with grace, we not only fight discouragement, foster consistency, and commitment, but we are also more aligned with God's will and become better stewards of both our minds and bodies.