Let’s get to the meat of the matter and nothing else. Yeah, I know- I struggle to keep the “something else” completely out of it but for today, meat of the matter ONLY.

You want to lose weight and you want to do it yesterday. Preferably without the bells, whistles, and what you may consider my usual “airy-fairy-new-age-woo-woo bullshit” (it’s not bs btw 😊)philosophies. You want answers NOW– much like Nick (bartender) to Clarence (angel) in It’s A Wonderful Life, who has taken far too long to arrive at his beverage choice for Nick’s liking, then adds insult to injury by ordering a “mulled wine- heavy on the cinnamon, light on the cloves.” to which Nick then barks:

“Hey, look, Mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast. And we don’t need any characters around to give the joint atmosphere. Is that clear? Or do I have to slip you my left for a convincer?”

Nobody needs to slip me their left. If you want advice in one fast in-your-face-get-real-smackdown-double-bourbon-shot equivalent, here it is:

shut your mouth, recalibrate your thinking, and be willing to get uncomfortable.

Yep, that’s truly the “secret” key. It’s one of those answers we may be quick to believe we’re engaging in but are often challenged by maintaining. Whenever I believe I’m doing everything but not experiencing results, I’m reminded to ask myself these questions:

• Are you ever hungry?
• Do you stop eating at least 2-3 hours before you go to bed at night?
• Do you avoid processed foods the majority of the time?
• Do you avoid or largely avoid consuming alcohol and sugar laden food and beverages?
• Do you exercise regularly- to the point of breathing hard and sweating?
• Do you eat a mainly plant-based, lean meat, (if not vegan) whole foods diet and watch portion size?
• Are you aware of (through trial and error, research, and possibly submitting to medical testing when necessary) and make allowances for any food intolerances you may have?

These are just a very few examples, but an answer of no to any of them indicates that it isn’t true that I’m actually doing everything I can.

This serves as a reality thwack when I find my jeans beginning to get tight and my life becoming misaligned in general, and I’m engaging in oft-practiced avoidance patterns in order to maintain a state of cluelessness as to why.

But that’s a whole other post I promised I wouldn’t get into today…

This is a smackdown, so I’m not imploring in my usual manner to examine the spiritual, psychological, or emotional reasons for the whys of what you do (you already know that’s your job) I’m just going Bartender Nick and giving a double shot of the truth for those who want change and need to hear this. Like me. Repeatedly.

Confront and acknowledge what you’re avoiding. Begin to take action in any way you’re led.

Wanting to lose weight, build muscle, and go bad-ass on your overall wellness requires a willingness to feel the irritation of a growling stomach, the ache of a body pushed out of its comfort zone, the discomfort of riding out feelings that arise when we give up the habitual “pacifiers” of alcohol, sugar, cigarettes, and any other vices that keep us comfortably numb, lacking the energy required to bring about change.

Can you do this? I already know YOU CAN! But the question is as always: are you willing to? That’s your call.

As for me, the time has come once again for me to answer mine.