In It For the Long Haul

Today I had an epiphany of sorts. I was feeling frustrated. I lost weight this week. 1.2 pounds bit the dust, and I'm thankful that they are no longer part of me. I wasn't frustrated that this is the smallest weight loss I've had in the past 10 weeks - though it is. I can be okay with that. After all, I can't keep up the three and four pound weeks forever.

No, my frustration is in how long it takes to get rid of extra weight. I've lost 20 pounds in the past 10 weeks, and I'm happy with that. I've been working hard, and it's coming off nicely. I'm frustrated that I could easily gain 40 pounds or more in 10 weeks. It sucks that it's easier to put on than to take off.

So unfair.

But, even though I'm frustrated with how long it takes to change, my epiphany was this:

Time is going to continue to move on whether I lose weight or not.
Next year is going to come.
October 2015 will be here regardless of my weight loss efforts.
There is nothing I can do to slow down, or speed up time.

The only thing I can control is what I put in my mouth, the decisions I make, the commitments I keep.

And then next year, If I stay on track, losing little by little, I'll reap the rewards of my hard work. Twenty pounds will turn into fifty. Fifty will turn into a hundred. Just keep taking one step at a time. Little by little. And stay on track.

That's my pep talk for today.

Saturday Update

I've been a dedicated little Weight Watcher-er this week, lemme tell ya.

Wednesday evening my walking buddy, Audra, and I decided to brave a break in the rain and tried to get in our walking that night.

We took all of three steps and the skies broke open with a deluge of rain. This was no gentle misting of rain - oh no - it was an absolute downpour.

Undaunted, we headed on, thinking it would surely pass in just a few minutes.

Not so.

We had to shelter underneath a pavilion, however, it soon became evident that the storm was not going to let up, and so we continued walking.

By the time we finished one mile, we were completely soaked. Wet, and cold, we decided to forego mile number 2, and went home.

We came back the next night, though, and walked 2 more miles.

Wow, what dedication!!
Excuse me while I pat my own back for a minute.

But, because of our extreme dedication, and spending another week of tracking my eating faithfully, let to....

Wait for it.....

Wait....

2.7 pounds gone this week!!

Woo hoo! I made it to my 5% goal, and have now gotten rid of 19 pounds in the last 9 weeks.

Check out that graph!!

I just want to make the point that I haven't "lost" those pounds.

I've gotten rid of them.

I know exactly where those 19 pounds went. They're hanging around the track at the park where I walk 3 days a week. They're sitting on the shelves of the grocery store as I walk past unhealthy choices, and make my way to the produce section. They're at the back of the parking lot where I park my car, so that I have to walk a half mile just to get to the front door (well, it feels like it anyway). They're sitting next to my iPad, where I log what I've eaten and how much every day. And they're on the floor of the kitchen, hanging out where I've said "no" to myself over and over again, going to bed early instead of giving in.

I know where those pounds have gone. They're not "lost" at all.

I've gotten rid of every single one of them through hard work and determination.