I'm reminded of something the late Professor Howard Hendricks once said in a sermon once.
He was passing a student of his down a hall and noticed that he looked highly stressed.
So he asked him how he was going.
"Alright under the circumstances Prof" responded the student in a shaky voice.
"Good Grief!...way are you under there for?!!!" roared Hendricks in reply.
The point that Howard Hendricks was making is events happen but it is how we cope with them is our choice.
This coming from a man who battled a lifetime of bouts with "black dog".
To be contrary to your last post...I believe weight loss has everything to do with your state of mind.
Please hear me out as I explain my reasoning.
If these "other factors" have the ability to sabotage your stated goals in weight loss then obviously there is a link at some level.
You may say that the cares of the world make it difficult to continue but can I turn this issue on it's head for you?
If you are sold out on the idea of weight loss and singled minded about it then what could possibly stop you?
There once lived a man in the US whose mother died shortly after he was born.
His father remarried and had many other children.
His father moved, took up farming and his son became his chief farm hand and so his formal education ceased at the fourth grade.
He grew up and went into partnership running a general store.
His partner cheated him and ran out - leaving him holding the bag and he had to declare himself bankrupt.
Later he married but the marriage was an unhappy one.
His son died suddenly and his wife became so grief stricken that she had bouts of madness.
He also developed chronic arthritis which almost debilitated him.
The circumstances of this man's life isn't very hopeful is it?
Wouldn't think he could ever achieve anything, right?
Oh...I forgot that other little problem that he had during his life...
He was the 16th President of the United States of America and had to lead his nation during it's bloodiest time in history.
Abraham Lincoln didn't let the circumstances of his life dictate his character.
As a consequence he moved above those circumstances and his life became a beacon of light and hope.
In every life is difficulty. No one is immune.
If you look around you will find people with less problems than yourself coping worse than yourself.
Also you will find other who have been dealt a worse hand than you stand tall in character.
In the reality show "The Biggest Loser" at the moment is a contestant who is blaming everyone but herself for her failure.
Her refrain is "I can't!"...and you know that she is right?
As long as she keeps telling herself that she can't - she won't be able to.
Here is a true and simple fact...
Those that say they can - can and those that say they can't - can't...and they are BOTH right!In Matthew 13:44-46 Jesus tells two parables that teach the same thing. The most famous one is called "The Pearl of Great Price".
In it a merchant searches and finds a pearl of great value. He wants it so much he sells everything he has in order to buy it.
He is prepared to pay the cost. It takes everything but he is willing to pay it.
This is the mindset that you have to develop in order to triumph over circumstances.
In my own weight loss journey there were similar costs.
Don't think for one minute my life was without "other factors".
They most probably different to yours but every bit as tough for me to deal with.
In the end I was prepared to pay the cost (and there was a price to pay).
But in the end I was able to stand above the circumstances as my character grew and was strengthened.
So it can be for you.
We are here to help...you are not alone.
Kim