Mental Floss
At today's meeting, we talked about the key to weight loss being one's mentality. I think that's absolutely true of long-term success on something like Weight Watchers.
We've all been there: We think we're only going to eat one cookie, but we eat the whole package. We go way over on points for lunch and think "well, there goes the day" or "there goes the week" and eat whatever we want from then on. We know we've gained weight one week and we don't want to go back to the meeting, we don't want to weigh in. We go on vacation and eat the world, feel like we've irrevocably blown it, and we stop going to meetings at all, we stop writing things down, we give up.
I've certainly been there; my lowest weight was 211 pounds, and now I weigh 240 pounds, and that's not the world's happiest thought. But I have to keep going forward anyway, even though I am "re-losing" weight that I already lost. The key to that is totally mental. It's as simple as not giving up.
This week I did not lose weight and I did not gain weight; I am still exactly 240.6 pounds. I stepped onto the scale sure that I'd lost weight, just wondering how much. (I was hoping for 2 pounds.) And I stepped off thinking, well, maybe it's that "fluid in the joints" thing someone mentioned to me a couple of weeks ago--is that even a real thing? Maybe it's the fact that I have my period. Maybe it was the glass of wine I had last night.
Ultimately, after listening to the things that were said at the meeting, I realized that it doesn't much matter whether I lost weight this week or not. I know I ate well and healthily this week. Yesterday we went on a wonderful long bike ride on a trail I'd never been on before. I felt good about myself walking into that meeting--I felt stronger, leaner, positive I'd lost weight. And why should that positive feeling go away? I had a good week. I feel good.
My other blog, Big Fat Deal, is all about emphasizing health and happiness above body size. Today I remembered to practice what I preach. And of course, to keep writing things down, keep riding my bike, keep eating well. The weight will come off eventually. I'm not in a hurry.
We've all been there: We think we're only going to eat one cookie, but we eat the whole package. We go way over on points for lunch and think "well, there goes the day" or "there goes the week" and eat whatever we want from then on. We know we've gained weight one week and we don't want to go back to the meeting, we don't want to weigh in. We go on vacation and eat the world, feel like we've irrevocably blown it, and we stop going to meetings at all, we stop writing things down, we give up.
I've certainly been there; my lowest weight was 211 pounds, and now I weigh 240 pounds, and that's not the world's happiest thought. But I have to keep going forward anyway, even though I am "re-losing" weight that I already lost. The key to that is totally mental. It's as simple as not giving up.
This week I did not lose weight and I did not gain weight; I am still exactly 240.6 pounds. I stepped onto the scale sure that I'd lost weight, just wondering how much. (I was hoping for 2 pounds.) And I stepped off thinking, well, maybe it's that "fluid in the joints" thing someone mentioned to me a couple of weeks ago--is that even a real thing? Maybe it's the fact that I have my period. Maybe it was the glass of wine I had last night.
Ultimately, after listening to the things that were said at the meeting, I realized that it doesn't much matter whether I lost weight this week or not. I know I ate well and healthily this week. Yesterday we went on a wonderful long bike ride on a trail I'd never been on before. I felt good about myself walking into that meeting--I felt stronger, leaner, positive I'd lost weight. And why should that positive feeling go away? I had a good week. I feel good.
My other blog, Big Fat Deal, is all about emphasizing health and happiness above body size. Today I remembered to practice what I preach. And of course, to keep writing things down, keep riding my bike, keep eating well. The weight will come off eventually. I'm not in a hurry.
Labels: weigh-in
4 Comments:
Mo-I am so happy you are updating again. So much of what you write resonates with me. I am also in the process of "relosing" weight-I just try to accept the reality of where I am now, and let the bad feelings go. You have such a great attitude-thanks!
This is a great post! I've had a rough few days coming to terms with my eating issues and although I don't want anyone else to suffer through them, it is nice to know I am not alone.
Welcome back! I was so happy to see you posting again. I recently lost 60 lbs. and regained 15 through the holiday season. I have 50 lbs. to go at this point, and I've really been struggling to get my head on straight myself. Great post.....
It's so difficult but I keep trying to divorce myself from the numbers, a little. I mean, I have a general direction in which to travel, but I keep trying to convince myself that it doesn't matter how fast or how slowly I arrive there. If I am doing the things I know are good for me, I want that to be reward enough. It often doesn't work, but I keep trying to convince myself!
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