Here in the U.S., we’ve just celebrated Independence Day. Freedom of thought and speech are huge cornerstones of our country’s government, but do we really use those freedoms?

Thinking for ourselves is so important… after all, we are people, not sheeple! Although I mindlessly followed the crowd of yo-yo dieters, procrastinators and the denial-prone for many years, I realized it forced me into a decidedly unexciting existence: overworking, never complaining, stressed and unhealthy. Uncle Sam might have been happy, my boss was happy, my doctor was happy as I marched with my little white prescription to the pharmacy… but I was not.

Huge amounts of money are spent every day in an attempt to get us to think one way or another.

Do we even realize the underlying suggestions in our advertising, media and internet activities? I was approached about a magazine article recently – then told it was a “pay for print” opportunity. In other words, if you pay them, they’ll write you into a story as if they’ve just “discovered” your expertise. How many of us believe most magazines truly report newsworthy ideas without prejudice?

So much of what we believe about ourselves and our bodies comes from somebody on Madison Avenue throwing around some money.

If I had continued to believe the crap I read in the media about weight loss, I’d still be 240 lbs. If I’d continued to believe I had to “fight a battle” with my body, my willpower and my natural appetite… there’s no way I would have made the changes that really mattered in my weight loss.

Just to name a few, we now have proof that these are absolutely NOT TRUE:

1. A calorie is a calorie; we lose weight by counting them.
2. Our ideal weight can be found on a chart designed by the insurance industry (who have lots of reasons ($$$) why they’d like you to believe you’re overweight so they can charge you more for insurance, refuse to give you coverage, and/or blame you when they don’t want to pay).
3. If we exercise like crazy, we can “erase” yesterday’s hot fudge sundae.
4. We have to gain weight as we get older.
5. Artificial sweeteners save you calories (and see #1).

At some point in our lives, we grow beyond what we’re told in life. Maybe our parents told us we’d never amount to anything. (Ha!) Maybe our mothers said we’d always be fat. (Yeah, right!) Maybe the fashion industry said you’re unattractive if you’re not a size 2. (Bite me!) Maybe our entire family believed life was simply sad. (What a joke!)

It’s up to us whether we continue these thoughts and attitudes in life. That’s why I stress the “no sheeple” zone in my work as a coach. Thinking for ourselves is a path towards our own deepest wishes. When we STOP looking outside ourselves for the answers, we find that path.

Some challenges:

1. Find an eating lifestyle that gives you vibrant energy and doesn’t come from any place outside your own body.

2. Discover activities that makes you happy, not depleted, exhausted or frustrated.

3. Work with your mental attitudes so that you can get yourself to do anything you want to do at any time – this is called “power.”

4. Develop emotional resiliency.

5. Connect to your spiritual purpose and journey in this life.

In short, claim your independence! Own your life! And celebrate!