You’ve Got to Believe in Yourself
This post appears as part of our Healthier 2021 series, in which we follow three WebMD team members as they strive to improve their health this year. You can follow their journeys here.
By Laura J. Downey
I was on the phone with my sister the other day and she told me that she hadn’t been doing so well with her eating regimen. So she decided to sign up for a weight loss app that helps you make behavioral changes related to diet and weight loss. After taking one of their courses focused on believing in yourself, something clicked for her. She called me and said, “I can do this, Laura. I just have to believe.”
Then I remembered a Bible verse I had read that morning in the book of Mark. It said, “But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid any longer, only believe.” I told my sister this is a clear sign: We can’t give up on ourselves. Although our wellness journeys are different, one underlying truth remains: We must believe we can do it.
Believing is the key to unlocking doors. For me, it’s knowing that I can continue this wellness journey by making the best choices for me. And it’s knowing that if I eat a brownie or indulge in a bag of sweet and salty kettle corn, that it’s not the end of the world. I can still balance these snacks by going for a walk or run and by making sure whatever else I eat that day includes lots of vegetables and portion-controlled meals.
As I mentioned in my first blog post about starting my new health journey: “This doesn’t mean I’m not going to eat sweets anymore. I’m not doing a complete overhaul here, people.” I will still treat myself, but I won’t get down on myself about it — even if I eat a little more than I should. And when this happens, I will ask myself some important questions, like “Do you really need this second brownie?” “Why do you want to have it?” “Are you not satisfied after having the first brownie?” “Are you eating out of boredom?” “Could you just have half of the second brownie instead of the whole one?” “How are you feeling right now? Happy, sad, anxious, stressed, or tired?”
Answers to these questions help engage my mind and allow me to get to the nuts and bolts of why I’m craving an additional brownie. So to keep track of my eating habits and the reasons behind why I might want to overeat, I started writing in a journal. Recently, someone in my WW meeting (I’ve been a member of Weight Watchers for 3 years now) said when she craves something unhealthy, she grabs her notebook, which is strategically placed in the kitchen, and jots down what she’s feeling. After doing that, she no longer has an interest in the unhealthy food choice anymore. She’ll then reach for something healthy.
Her story encouraged me to start a similar journal — and it speaks volumes. There are times when I am eating more than I should just because I’m sitting in front of the television or because missing my morning exercise made me feel like it’s a free-for-all for the rest of the day. They say when you know better, you do better. Well, I definitely know better, and I truly believe I can do better and be the best version of Laura J. So as I enter the third month of my wellness journey, I’m believing in myself, I’m believing in you, and together, we can do this!
Laura J. Downey is the executive editor of WebMD Magazine.She hopes this blog will help others see that every small step can lead to a more well-balanced, healthful, and fulfilling life. For more on her journey, follow her on Instagram @laurakadowney.
After going over a number of the blog articles on your web page, I seriously appreciate your
technique of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark webpage list and will be checking back in the
near future. Please check out my website too and let me know what
you think.
I was extremely pleased to discover this great site. I need to to thank you for ones time for this wonderful read!! I definitely really liked every part of it and I have you saved as a favorite to look at new things in your site.
Hello! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if
you knew where I could locate a captcha plugin for my comment form?
I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having problems
finding one? Thanks a lot!
Very instructive and good anatomical structure of content material, now that’s user pleasant (:.
Hello there, I found your site via Google while looking for a related topic, your site came up, it looks great. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
Hmm is anyone else having problems with the pictures on this blog loading?
I’m trying to find out if its a problem on my end or
if it’s the blog. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Howdy very cool blog!! Guy .. Beautiful .. Amazing ..
I will bookmark your blog and take the feeds
additionally? I’m satisfied to search out so many
helpful info right here in the post, we’d like develop
more techniques in this regard, thank you for sharing. . . .
. .
WOW just what I was looking for. Came here by searching for website
Hello, constantly i used to check blog posts here
in the early hours in the break of day, for the reason that i love to learn more and more.
Thanks for finally talking about > You’ve Got to Believe in Yourself – ruffeodrive < Loved it!
Magnificent site. Plenty of useful information here.
I’m sending it to several pals ans also sharing in delicious.
And certainly, thanks on your sweat!
Wonderful website you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any community forums that cover the same topics talked
about in this article? I’d really like to be a part of group
where I can get comments from other experienced individuals that share the same interest.
If you have any recommendations, please let me know.
Cheers!
What a data of un-ambiguity and preserveness of valuable knowledge regarding unexpected emotions.
Hey there this is somewhat of off topic but I was wanting to
know if blogs use WYSIWYG editors or if you have to manually code
with HTML. I’m starting a blog soon but have no coding knowledge so I wanted to get advice from someone with experience.
Any help would be enormously appreciated!
It’s very straightforward to find out any matter on web as compared to books, as I found
this post at this website.
Hi, yup this article is in fact nice and I have learned lot of things from it concerning blogging.
thanks.
Hello, I would like to subscribe for this web
site to obtain most up-to-date updates, so where can i do it please help out.
It’s impressive that you are getting thoughts from this paragraph as well as
from our argument made at this place.
Hello There. I found your blog using msn. This is a very well written article.
I will make sure to bookmark it and return to read more of
your useful info. Thanks for the post. I’ll definitely
return.
Howdy! I know this is kinda off topic but I’d figured I’d ask.
Would you be interested in exchanging links or maybe
guest authoring a blog article or vice-versa?
My blog covers a lot of the same subjects as yours and I
feel we could greatly benefit from each other. If you might
be interested feel free to shoot me an email. I
look forward to hearing from you! Terrific blog by the way!
Very energetic blog, I liked that bit. Will there be a part 2?
Hi there to every , as I am truly eager of reading this website’s post to be updated on a regular basis.
It contains fastidious information.
Good post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs
I stumbleupon every day. It’s always interesting to read content
from other writers and use a little something from their websites.
Hey there! I just want to give you a huge thumbs up for your excellent info you’ve got right here on this
post. I am returning to your site for more soon.
Undeniably believe that which you stated. Your favorite reason seemed to be on the internet the easiest thing to be aware of.
I say to you, I certainly get annoyed while
people think about worries that they plainly do not know about.
You managed to hit the nail upon the top as well as defined out
the whole thing without having side-effects , people can take a signal.
Will likely be back to get more. Thanks
Hey there! I’ve been reading your web site for a long time now
and finally got the courage to go ahead and give you a shout out from Lubbock Tx!
Just wanted to tell you keep up the excellent job!
Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your weblog and wished to say that I’ve truly enjoyed browsing your blog posts.
After all I’ll be subscribing to your rss feed and I hope you write again very soon!
My relatives all the time say that I am killing my time here
at net, however I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading such fastidious articles.
With havin so much content do you ever run into any problems
of plagorism or copyright violation? My site has a lot of exclusive content I’ve either created myself or outsourced
but it seems a lot of it is popping it up all over the internet without my agreement.
Do you know any methods to help prevent content from being ripped off?
I’d truly appreciate it.
Superb site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any forums that cover
the same topics talked about in this article? I’d really love to be a part of group where
I can get advice from other knowledgeable individuals
that share the same interest. If you have any recommendations, please
let me know. Thank you!
You can win thousands, perhaps millions, of dollars at a genuine money on-line casino.
I truly love your site.. Great colors & theme.
Did you build this web site yourself? Please reply back as I’m trying to
create my own personal blog and would like
to learn where you got this from or what the theme
is called. Cheers!
Very good article! We are linking to this particularly
great content on our website. Keep up the great writing.
Thanks for finally talking about > You’ve
Got to Believe in Yourself – ruffeodrive < Liked it!
What’s up, this weekend is pleasant in support of me, as this occasion i am reading this
enormous informative post here at my residence.
I do not even know how I ended up here, but I thought this post was great.
I don’t know who you are but definitely you are going to a famous blogger if
you aren’t already 😉 Cheers!
hello!,I love your writing very much! share we be in contact extra approximately your article on AOL?
I require a specialist in this space to unravel my problem.
May be that is you! Having a look ahead to see you.
wonderful points altogether, you just received a
new reader. What might you recommend in regards to your post that you made some days ago?
Any certain?
Very interesting information!Perfect just what I was looking for!
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something that I think I would never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad for me. I’m looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
What Is Puravive? Puravive is a natural weight loss supplement that is known to boost the metabolic processes of the body.
I’m still learning from you, while I’m making my way to the top as well. I certainly liked reading everything that is written on your website.Keep the aarticles coming. I enjoyed it!
I like this post, enjoyed this one appreciate it for putting up.
A large percentage of of the things you articulate is supprisingly precise and that makes me wonder why I hadn’t looked at this in this light before. Your piece truly did turn the light on for me personally as far as this specific subject goes. However at this time there is just one position I am not too comfortable with and while I make an effort to reconcile that with the actual core idea of your point, allow me observe just what the rest of the readers have to point out.Nicely done.