Embracing My Breaking Point

In a recent interview I was asked, “Was there a certain event or breaking point that made you realize it was time for a change?” I quickly replied by providing a couple of my well-rehearsed responses; “Well” I said, “I was tired of being out of breath when going up stairs.” I then continued on by providing an extra bit of flare and added “I knew it was time for a change when I couldn’t even bend over to tie my shoes without being out of breath.” This particular interviewer respond by saying “Wow, I could see how that would really make you want to change your life!” Now in no way am I questioning the sincerity of this interviewer, rather I am questioning my inability to provide an honest response to this particular question. Taking the time and exerting the energy to really identify my breaking point has been exhausting and has conjured up insecurities that I thought I had laid to rest.

My breaking point revealed itself through the harsh realization that I had in fact put up a protective physical barrier in the form of weight. This effort to shield myself from dealing with my own issues of abandonment, low self-esteem, and an overall feeling of helplessness was an unconscious choice. I had imprisoned myself along with all my insecurities in a cocoon of excess. Stripped of my protective barrier I am forced to deal with these issues and closely analyze how each of them led to my weight gain. The encouraging part to this is, that by identifying the factors that fueled my breaking point I am able to begin confronting them so as to not allow them to control my life. I have also realized that I possess the strength to not only deal with these issues, but use them in my favor.

One might ask, “Why put yourself through the process of identifying your breaking point in an effort to embrace it?” My response is simple – “The point at which I decided it was time for a change, whether an actual event, or in my case a personal realization, carries with it an incredible power to better my life, so why not embrace it! I feel that is a much healthier alternative to living in fear that my breaking point if left unidentified could leave me broken!”

Many of you may have already reached your breaking point, which has led you to our DietsInReview website, for that I applaud you! However, be sure that as you proceed in your weight loss journey you take time to revisit that point in your life when you realized enough was enough. Not to conjure up painful memories but to realize how far you’ve come and the power you now possess to not only take the weight off, but to keep it off.