Sometimes I feel like I need to be further along than I am. I feel like I’m working really hard at my weight loss goals and I wonder if my results are as good as they could be on the scale. Then, I feel as though I deserve to be closer to my goal. I call this a stall. The motor isn’t running and I’m just sitting there in negativity.
Day Nine is the bag!
Sometimes I feel like I have this weight loss journey all figured out. I am in the zone, and that I”m doing everything perfectly right. I feel myself changing and I am getting great results. It almost feels effortless. When that happens I feel powerful and strong on this journey. I am picking up speed and there is no turning back. I call this momentum.
I’ve come to expect both of these situations on my journey. If I know that they are both part of the process I don’t have to worry about losing one or finding myself in the other. It’s just all part of it – I’m learning more each day. In many ways I am grateful for this journey because I am coming to know myself better and better.
This post is dedicated to anyone who is struggling to hold on to their weight loss journey. I know how you feel. I know how scary it can be when you feel the good habits you’ve worked so hard to establish start to wane and fade. There is a palpable fear that slowly the weight gain will start again. That’s an awful way to feel, and if you’re there right now, believe this, you’re not alone.
Open up your perspective and think back on your journey. There is an ebb and flow for living a healthier lifestyle. If you’re new to this journey, know a healthy lifestyle requires a lot energy so don’t give up yet. Hang on. If you just hang on you will make it through this hard spot. In the meantime, try not to waste your precious energy on fear, disappointment, or stress. Even if you’re unsure on the inside, be brave on the outside.
This is hard but I can do this. Say that over and over and eventually you’ll believe it because it’s the truth.
Day 8 Sugar-Free Challenge Check! I saw this on my ride home from work. It’s whimsy and it whispers in my heart remember.
If I were to go back and reread my posts I would see my whole journey laid out in front of me up to this point. Through this process of daily blogging, II have learned, and continue to learn so much about myself. I have learned:
how to recognize external hunger from internal hunger.
that tracking my food each day helps me stay accountable.
weighing and measuring my portions helps me maintain control.
I need supportive in person and virtual communities to help me.
sleep is very important for weight loss and I need to work on this.
I enjoy activity, it makes me feel good physically and mentally.
writing helps me to sort through this process and organize myself.
my beliefs are very powerful and shape my outcomes.
I like to cook new recipes, and eat good food.
weight loss is difficult and yet it can be done.
What’s next for me as I continue down this path? I don’t know, lately I’ve been hungry but I’m also still on antibiotics and I think that may have something to do with it. I have had a very good week on plan. The only areas I need to improve are activity, and sleep. I need to get more of both! I hope you are having good experiences and are feeling confident. If you are not, don’t beat yourself up, just start over. More tomorrow.
I was a little hungry at certain points in the day today. I did have a nice selection of good healthy snacks and that was helpful. I brought vegetable sticks, grapes, and halos. Then when I came home I actually had to have a bowl of Corn Flakes with 1/4 cup fat free milk. I know because I weighed and measured my portions.
For me, this is what life-long weight loss looks like.
On Friday, during professional development, I used a quote from one of my favorite educator/authors, Vicki Vinton to spark some discussion:
If we’re serious about helping students become independent readers who seek to understand through their own agency, we have to be willing to release responsibility before we’re absolutely sure they can do it on their own.”
Vicki Vinton
One insightful teacher said, “This is so true. It’s kind of like teaching your kid to drive. You have to let them go even though you’re not really sure they can do it yet.” My featured image is actually from yesterday. My son was driving. Fear smothers growth, and while it’s difficult to give up control it’s really essential.
Oatmeal with 9 grams slivered almonds, blueberries, banana, and a few pomegranate seeds. Behind the dish are some apple pears I didn’t eat mine yet. I’ll let you know how they are!
I started thinking about control in terms of my weight loss journey. There really is a give and take. I am learning how to face that it’s not possible for me to control every single thing and to be ok with that. Yesterday, I went over my SmartPoints balance and even though that wasn’t the plan it’s still ok. I had pizza for lunch and went to the movies and then I ate some popcorn and that did it. Life is going to happen along the way and that means some spontaneous decision making will follow. That is why WW gives us those extra points. If I had pulled myself back from indulging in those moments this journey will become too stringent for me. I had fun going out with my sister for lunch, I enjoyed being at the movies with my husband. In those moments food was part of the experiences. Maybe another day I would have eaten a salad at the restaurant or maybe the movie popcorn wouldn’t have appealed to me. Maybe, but I wanted pizza and popcorn yesterday. And that’s ok.
Just go see this movie this holiday season. It will make you feel so happy to be human.
So many of us are just so hard on ourselves. I know I’ve made up rules like, I am going to rollover four SmartPoints for the next week each day. Then if for some reason or another that doesn’t happen and I feel so defeated. Even though, I generally use kind words to myself and forgive my own failures and appreciate my own stores of resilience – negativity can still seep in.
When I think about control I really also have to think about choice. My choices do reveal my sense of control. I decided what I would or would not do yesterday. I did that, it wasn’t the food taking over. For me (and please this is just from my own lived experiences) having a history of being significantly overweight comes with some feeling of guilt and shame. It’s my sad sad truth and I have to deal with that. Yesterday, I used 10 extra SmartPoints by the close of the day, and none of those points were used on sugar by the way – so “Day 4” did go as planned. Letting go of my fear that I’m failing at this, is a huge victory. Even after all this time I’m still learning this lesson.
Day Five Sugar-Free Challenge. Today was another success! It’s getting a little easier too.
Saturday is my day to get in touch with my WW community. I know I will learn new information, and benefit from listening to others as they share their experiences. The insights I gain help me throughout my week, and remind me that I am not alone. Sometimes, I leave with an idea that I want to write about, right away. Here are some quotes from my meeting:
“Journey deviations make me lose my mind.”
“Sometimes I’ll ask myself, do I really need this? And, I will say no, but then I eat it anyway.”
“When I go to someone’s house, I’ll bring desserts that I don’t enjoy.”
“I realized I had to stop drinking wine because it was effecting my weight loss. It’s not just the wine, it’s the cheese that came with it.”
“While I was losing the weight, I had to come to understand that I was afraid of succeeding. What happens after goal?”
In a world full of hype, “messaging”, and image it is just such a relief to be in a room full of people who are generous, honest, present, reflective, and kind. Weight loss is hard enough, and I need backup if I’m going to live in that 17% of people who maintain their weight loss. To put that number into some perspective, 17% of the world’s population is from India. When I think about how big India is I think sure I can do this. However, I can’t say this enough, I am so grateful to part of my Saturday Morning WW community. You make me more than I’d be by myself.
Day 4 Sugar-free Challenge. It is a little early to put in down as a given, but I feel confident that I can do it. I’m already feeling stronger and better. This is helping me a lot.
Being Strategic!
Here are some tips that members shared today that will help you stay on plan as we head a little deeper into this holiday season.
Plan your plate with lean protein and zero SmartPoint foods in a balanced proportionate way.
Plan out zero SmartPoint foods throughout the day as part of snacks or meals.
Even though we don’t have to, it is a good idea to weigh and measure zero SmartPoint foods so that we get an idea of serving sizes.
Click on the documents for zero SmartPoint food options.
This was a strong week on plan for me, even though Sunday and Monday were a struggle. I pulled myself out of my rut with a simple challenge. No dessert or sweets for 14 days. I thought about how good I’d feel accomplishing a goal, and those thoughts have helped me to stay on track.
Day 3 Sugar Free Challenge 11 Days to go!
I bought candy for professional development and put it into little cheerful red bags. I really did want a piece of candy but I held onto my resolve and thought about how good it would be to write this post knowing I decided to say, “No.” What a powerful word “No” is. When I say “No” I am taking back control. Things are not just going to happen to me, I am going to decide what I will or will not put into my body. This is my gift to me.
Ever hear the expression “It’s been a bear of a day.” That sums up today. Insofar as my weight loss and wellness goals I am still on track. I made smart choices and I feel pretty great about that. I had brown rice, grilled chicken, broccoli, black beans, and Pico De Gallo. I am rolling over 4 SmartPoints, and life is pretty sweet on Green.
Day 2 in the books 12 more days to go!
I had to stop at the grocery store after my unbelievably long day and buy candy for PD tomorrow. Yup, you heard me it’s expected and besides, just because I’m not eating candy doesn’t mean the world isn’t. It was kind of crazy when I picked up the bag of Hershey Miniatures when some actually fell into my hands! The bag was ripped and it was fate was mocking me, “Candy anyone?” All I could do was laugh and put the bag back down on the shelf. I got this.
Right now the sweet thing I’m doing is taking this time to write this post just for me. I am writing to honor my efforts. There is a lot of my life I can’t control but at least of I have right now. My belief that I can do this is my anchor. I can get back to Lifetime status, and continue to maintain my weight loss. I am tethered by my belief in me.
Congratulations Vicky!
I hope you had a great day on plan, I hope you appreciate how amazing you are for taking your health and wellness goals. I’m cheering you on, keep going.
I want to start this post with some gratitude. I am grateful for my renewed energy for the journey. Day one of my of my self-imposed 14 day Sugar Free Challenge. Great! No dessert – not even a desire for dessert. This is a strong start that makes me pretty happy.
However, it is later than I want it to be. I came home from work cooked dinner, packed lunch, did some organizing for work, I was pulled into a project with my son, and after that I was put to work with my writing partner. She like me, has endless days of “have to” and strives to stretch and grow. Now my dog is sleeping on the ottoman and I am thinking she is smarter than me. I am here wide awake and thinking that I am signed up for spin class tomorrow and I really want to go. So the sweet thing I am going to do for myself is to say “good night.
My husband did a beautiful thing for me today. He painted our bedroom. Of course my favorite paint color is called (wait for it) Butter. That just makes perfect sense to me. Anyway, he was so sweet to do it, because it really was a lot of work. Now I can just sit back and enjoy how lovely it looks.
My view into the hallway
I wish I could report that today was a great day on plan. It was for the most part until this evening. Then I just snacked mindlessly. I’m am still getting over being sick, I am feeling sore, and just a little bit sorry for myself. I also think I’m also worried. The holidays are coming and while I do love this time of year, it adds additional stress that isn’t always so easy to cope with. I’m not trying to make excuses, I’m trying to understand why I made such poor choices this evening. The bad combination of feeling sick, stress, and worry are not a winning combination. So while yesterday was a battle I won – today was a battle I lost.
All I want for Christmas is to fully appreciate my weight loss journey. Getting to goal was difficult and now I find myself working to get back to Lifetime status. My weight loss journey is the gift I gave to myself, and that’s how I want to honor it – it is something I did just for me. I never want to lose sight of that. If I lose sight of that then it would be like I’m giving up on me. I am grateful that I found myself again on this journey. I know I can do this because I’ve done it before.
Self imposed 14 Day Sugar-Free Challenge
For the next 14 days, I will not eat any sweetened foods. For each day I forego desserts or sweetened foods I will do something “sweet” for myself. I think this is a good way to kickstart my plan again because it is something I can control. If you want to join me, I hope you’ll let me know. More tomorrow readers, remember we got this.
Getting to Goal 