If you are one of the millions of Americans looking to lose weight and become fit, make sure before you start snacking on that celery or lifting those weights that you are doing it for the right reasons. Motivation is a powerful thing, but positive motivation leads to lasting results.

Wherever you are at with your life it is immensely important to begin any process of self-improvement with a deep love for you. Otherwise you are likely to either a) not achieve your goals, or b) do more harm than good in the long run.

A lot of people force themselves into a sudden, strict workout regimen because they hate the way that they currently look and want to shed pounds fast. They count calories and cut out all fatty foods and treats, hitting the gym every day. This lasts… oh, about a month or two on average…

Then what happens? These people end up right back where they started but infinitely more frustrated, leading to more self-hate and possibly worsening the situation they aimed to fix in the first place.

Don’t want this to be you? The solution is simple: patience and self-love.

Being healthy and building your way to a better you is all dependent on a series of choices you make every day. Each moment you can choose to be actively engaged in your life or to sit back and let the day wash past you. The choices that involve being good to yourself are almost always NOT the easiest ones. That is probably the toughest part to get used to.

What is ultimately better for you? Waking up a little earlier to eat that yogurt and jump start your metabolism in the morning, or sleeping a little longer? It partially depends on if you made the choice to be good to your body by going to bed a little earlier the night before. Once you begin a series of small, healthy choices, they will eventually begin to lead into one another. This chain reaction of seemingly minuscule changes ultimately combines into a healthier, happier you.

So when do you start? Well, that is entirely up to you. It takes stopping and considering what the best choice is for yourself at every moment. Go to the gym when you have time. Go to bed early. Choose to do the things that are uniquely right for YOU so that you can feel your best and see improvements in your body and life every day.

It is up to you. Ready, set, GO!