What if you could change something major in a single moment? What if I told you that you could right now just by deciding to. I’m not saying that if you have a goal to drop 100lbs that you could snap your fingers and it would be gone this instant, but you can make a decision in an instant, that will have that exact result.

So many people try to lose weight, succeed for a while, then go off track, gain it back and later try again. Yoda from Star Wars is famous for saying “Do or do not, there is no try” and it sounds silly perhaps, but it really is true. When you ‘try’ to quit smoking, or ‘try’ to drop some weight, it is easy to go back to your old habits.

Maybe that’s true, but what if you could decide to change and then actually change? I am here to tell you that you can do that, and it really is that simple! I have not only seen it with client after client, but I myself have experienced it.

Back in the late 90’s when I was overweight and miserable, after enduring doctor appointments, specialist appointments, scans, tests, and all sorts of stuff – I was sick and tired, of being sick and tired. After yet another appointment with my doctor, he suggested I try eating well, exercising and getting some rest. It seemed a lot better than the pills and garbage I had been given prior, so I signed up at a local gym. A lady there gave me a copy of a video that was a documentary of seven people that went from fat to fit and changed their lives. As I watched that video I knew in an instant that my life was never going to be the same at all, and it never has been.

I focused, I studied, I learned and I committed with absolution to changing my entire lifestyle. I told my wife, I told everyone at work, I told my friends and I completely changed how I lived my life. I dropped over 40lbs of fat, and put on 20lbs of muscle and was in the best shape of my life at age 30. I changed my life in an instant, but to be fair – it took years of ‘getting ready’ to decide. I had to get sick of living the way I was, and then decide not to live that way any more.

Now, all these years later, this is what I do – I help others to do the same thing. When someone is read to change, really ready, you can tell. They have made a decision. A decision to change in the truest sense of the word.

In ancient times certain tribes would go to war with another tribe and claim their land. When they marched on that other tribe, they brought their families and all of their possessions with them, and when they crossed a bridge, they burned it behind them. Total commitment. No going back.

Maybe that’s a bit extreme, but it’s pretty hard to argue that it is effective.

So how does that look to you? If changing your eating and lifestyle is the goal, then you have to set yourself up to win. Gut your pantry and fridge, toss out anything that isn’t 100% healthy. Go shopping and only buy healthy stuff. If you don’t know what that is, we need to talk. Next, make sure your family is on board. That might take some work, but if you show them how your health, your happiness, and your very life is on the line, I think they will come along. Then tell your friends you need their support in this – friends are very supportive and if they aren’t maybe it’s time for new friends (sorry). Tell the people at work, and make it a challenge.

Decide that you must change. Decide that you must be the one that changes. Decide that you can change. Then snap your fingers and change.

Scott McDermott is a personal trainer and owner of Best Body Fitness in Sylvan Lake.