It’s #facetoface #transformation time! There’s about 50 pounds and nearly a decade separating these two faces. I’ll be honest and say that even though I’ve been maintaining my weight loss for about 5 years now, I have the fear of returning to my previous, unhealthy self. When this fear creeps in, I try to battle it with sticking to what I know… running and plant-based eating. The woman on the left most certainly was not exercising nor eating plant based. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I’m far from perfect, still learning, and in it for the journey, not the destination.

I remember, quite vividly, where I was when the picture on the left was taken.  I had traveled to Yangshuo by myself while on holiday from my teaching job in China.  It was towards the end of my one year contract and I wanted to see a few key sites before leaving the country.  The image of the peaks surrounding the Li River in Guilin can be found on the back of the new twenty Yuan notes and I wanted to go there.  It was a wonderful trip, but I remember feeling slow and unhealthy.  It was an adventure filled trip (bike tours, mud bathes in caves, hikes, etc.), but looking back at pictures all I can think is, “Wow!  I was so big!  So unhealthy!”

By contrast, the picture on the right was taken right before completing the Frost or Fog 10 mile race last month. Although I am running fewer miles than what I was running a year ago, I know that I am still relatively healthy.  (I use the term “relatively” just because I feel as though my level of health can still be improved.)

The woman on the left and the woman on the right do not have the same mindset.  The woman on the left knew how to how to yo-yo diet and she didn’t like it.  The women on the right, however, knows that in order to see lasting change, she must must make a lifestyle change.  She must exercise regularly and eat less processed foods.

What’s your mindset?