Are you one of those who cant lose weight no matter what you do. Are you perpetually on a diet? Are you constantly starting and stopping exercise? What causes someone not to follow through on their pledge to lose weight?  Most people probably cant lose weight because of an overdrawn “Personal Integrity Account”.

Personal Integrity Account

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines Integrity as

1 : firm adherence to a code of especially moral or artistic values :incorruptibility
2 : an unimpaired condition : soundness
3 : the quality or state of being complete or undivided : completeness
synonyms see honesty

We must be trustworthy not only to others, but also to ourselves. In fact we cannot be trustworthy to others if we are not trustworthy to ourselves. To be trustworthy to our selves, we must be able to trust ourselves.

We Start to Believe Our Lies

This flaw in us has risen from our own doing that holds us back from achieving lofty goals. We have lied to and cheated ourselves so many times that we have eventually stopped believing the words that we utter. Most people cant lose weight because they start believing that they cant lose weight.

It’s very easy to break a promise or go back on a commitment that you have made to yourself. After all its only between you and yourself.

Break Down in integrity

Steven Covey has so elegantly explained the reason for this break down in our integrity.

Each and everyone of us has what Steven Covey calls a “Personal Integrity Account”. This account really reflects the amount of trust we have in our selves.

In essence,  the Personal Integrity Account measures the level of trust or distrust that we have in ourselves. If the account is on the extreme positive end, anything that you say, you will do. On the extreme negative end, you would have lied to your self so much that you stop believing in your own promises.

Most people keep repeating to themselves that they cant lose weight. They keep asking self-defeating questions.

“Why cant I lose weight?”

“Why am I so fat?”

What Deposits Are You Making In Your Personal Integrity Account

When we make and keep our commitments such as following the prescribed exercise, diet and supplementation regime, we make deposits into this account.

Deposits into the “Personal Integrity Account” increases our own trustworthiness. It increases our ability to make and keep commitments to ourselves and to others.

You Cant Lose Weight Because Your Personal Integrity Account Overdrawn

When we do not achieve our goals or break our commitments, we make withdrawals and this could be a tremendous source of pain. Over time, frequent withdrawals cause us to lose confidence in our ability to make and keep commitments. We lose trust in ourselves! How many times have you said to yourself, “I just don’t think I can do it?”. Would you say something like that if there was a high balance in your Personal Integrity Account?

Cynicism and rationalization often follows and holds us back from achieving greatness in any field. I have heard people say that they feel exercising is too time consuming. Others say their spouse is not supportive.  When you to look for an excuse, you could find a million other reasons for why you should give up a credible exercise program.

Setting and achieving personal goals adds to your Personal Integrity Account. You have to do what you say you would do. You have to walk the talk. You cant lose weight so long as you do not deposit into your personal integrity account. Keep your word to yourself. These are the most important promises you could keep.