Take The Train…

When you think about a journey by train, it can conjure many different images in your mind. Luxury train travel for example The Orient Express, the quick route into the nearest city, or the pretty scenic view to a destination you want to visit.

The Express train – Is a direct route from A-B hardly stopping anywhere.

The Normal train – Goes straight from A-B but stops at most stations

The Scenic train – Get on and off, change at stations for a different train, but it will still get you from A-B.

If our weight loss journey was to be compared to a train journey, the majority of us don’t stay on the same train for the whole of the journey, but that doesn’t mean going off the rails and abandoning the journey. It simply means adapting to the different route!

If you are on the express train then there is a good chance you have cut out everything that you enjoy, you are highly motivated and focused which makes being on the express train easy. You get great weight losses and that inspires you to keep doing it. But the danger is that once you’ve reached your destination, or are happier with your weight and shape you are unable to stay there as you haven’t learnt how to deal with either the foods or the situations that made you get on the train in the 1^st place!

So how can you safely get off the express train without derailing all your efforts?

• Trying to find healthier versions of the same sort of foods that you had before you got on the train. Compromising on the foods you love, maybe smaller portions?
• Most importantly though is to keep coming to your meetings and this is a 2-way train track. Even when in control you still need to come to support others on the journey. But even more importantly when you’re not, as that’s where you got the support originally!! Who else will be able to get you back on track!!

   

People on the normal train are already practising the skills, tactics and behaviours that will enable them to adapt to the challenges that ‘ normal’ life presents. The weekends, the birthdays, the holidays, all the celebrations as well as the difficult, stressful times. As the majority of our behaviours are learnt, with support, advice and guidance we can either relearn or modify them to give the best results. All of which you’ll find at your local meetings.

If you are going the scenic way unlike those on the express train who don’t let any situation/occasion/food get in the way of their journey and final destination, you may use anything as a reason not to stay on the train! However, the very reason you got onboard in the beginning needs to say in the forefront of your mind, when it slips , your meetings will guide you back on track.

All trains do reach their destination eventually, but only if you remain as a passenger!!

Remember it’s no good buying your ticket and hoping you will be getting on the Hogwarts train where your weight will magically disappear.

People can and do change trains along their journey depending on which route is the best fit at the time . There is no best one, or worst one, just the right one for now!! As long as you now know the strategies to all of the trains then you will all stand a chance of reaching your final destination.

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.

corrie ten boom