I had a thought the other day that I'd like to share with anyone who'd care to read this.
I've tried
dieting several times, but I always felt like I was depriving myself. Or working out so often that I gave up because it was too difficult a schedule. Whatever it was, I gave myself this feeling of "all or nothing" and obviously, the "nothing" part prevailed every time.
So here's my big metaphor:
You're in the jungle, OK? And the only way to get back to normal life is to walk about a
thousand miles back to the edge where you'll be rescued. Thing is, you're the only one who can walk yourself out. Seems to be a bit of a daunting task, doesn't it?
So you start walking and cover about 5-10 miles a day. This goes on for a month or so when you decide you're tired of or bored with walking and give up. You eat crappy leaves and jungle bugs and stay in the jungle forever. 
Now back up, and find a monkey, or a Rubik's cube, or ipod. Something you can carry with you on that walk.
OK, now you start walking and you're playing with a monkey. The walk goes a little slower but occasionally, you even forget that you're walking because that monkey is an entertaining little distraction. Plus, it's cute. Every morning, you get up and confront the fact that you need to keep going but then you remember it's not just one giant sacrifice; you kept something to help it seem a little less ominous. After a few months, you look around and realize there's nothing around you but wide open spaces. The suffocating jungle is behind you. Sure, it took a little longer, but would you have had the sanity to make it without the monkey? Probably not. And look at you now! You're rescued!
My monkey? It's ranch dressing,
Diet Mt. Dew (the sodium causes water retention), books on CD on my ipod and occasional chocolate. I can't give those up or the "all or nothing" would kill me.
I sincerely hope this made sense to you now that I've finally let it out of my head. If not, just forget you ever read this and quit trying to make sense of it. Have a great day!
