"Though no one can go back and make a brand new start,
anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending." ~ Anonymous

Friday, January 22, 2010

Emotional Moment

Thinking late at night can be detrimental to my mental health because I tend to vex on things that really aren't important, or not as important as I make them out to be.

I've lost 24 pounds in the last eight months. I am very proud of this and even more proud that I'm losing inches along with it due to my recent increase in exercise.

However, after catching up on my weight loss blog reading this evening I began to think...

This is only 3 pounds a month, which is approximately 0.75 pounds a week.

I'm a little upset by this slow progress, but I think I'm more upset when I see that so many people just stuck to their diets and got it done. They decided to do it, did it and reached their goals in a year or just over.

In May of last year I decided that I wasn't going to start a diet to lose weight. I was going to make small changes to better my health with the final goal in mind of buying a nice dress for my husband's dental school graduation in May 2011 coming from a regular sizes department versus a plus sizes department.

Along the way I've made small, good changes in my eating and really upped my exercise level, but I'm still seeing so many of the bad habits with my eating. I do good for a couple of days and then I do fine. Or I eat fine at meals and then catch myself munching. *sigh* This bothers me, but I know it's no one's fault but my own.

It is something I need to work on, because, honestly...I'm tired of posting my weigh-ins and seeing them go up and down every week. Well, actually I'm only kind of tired of it. I don't mind what I see on the scale as long as it's not a huge gain. I think it's when I compare myself to others and their weight loss journeys that I begin to get upset.

I guess if it bothers me that much I just need to get tired of it enough to be consistent (like I posted here months ago) and stick to making better choices all of the time.

Meanwhile, I'll try not to let it get me down and instead I'll just keep staying active and work on the eating less part. I know this is the comparison demon that is not a good thing at times, so I will publish this post and then let it go.

Good night and thanks for allowing me this emotional moment.

9 comments:

  1. I tell my kids over and over, "Comparison is of the devil. It only hurts." Don't let comparison bring you down--you're doing great!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Leah, I can say I know exactly what you are going through I have stayed within 5 pounds for the last 8 months and I want nothing more to get down further. I look back on my journey and can't give up, I am going to fight to the bitter end. There have been alot of blood sweat and tear associated with it and for me there is no turning back. If I have to stay at this weight for a few more months then so be it but I am stronger than a scale and so are you!
    Even the little losses add up and give us the fight we need to continue this long painful journey to happiness.
    Chin up girl, keep fighing it's so worth it!
    hugs to you

    ReplyDelete
  3. Leah, if you break it down this far, then you find ways to get frustrated with yourself. The truth of the matter is that you are progressing. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. Don't worry about how others are doing it. If you are unhappy with your progress, make another small change. If you are still unhappy, make another small change. Don't get frustrated that it isn't all happening at once though. You are doing the right things, just keep at it.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The other comments are true. Comparing is human nature but can be so destructive (whether you are "ahead" or "behind)."

    I'm glad you use blogging as a therapeutic tool to vent thoughts and then leave it. Good for mental health.

    And EVERYTHING can be so dark at night, not just the sky. People say don't go to bed mad...work out your problem with your mate before you sleep. It can get worse if both people are tired. A good night's sleep makes a big difference in everything.

    ReplyDelete
  5. I struggle a lot with consistency as well, going up and down, and I think it would be a lot easier if I could have "balance." But for me, easier said than done. 24 lbs is still 24 lbs. It's still having the mindset, and it's still progress. It's easy to get frustrated, but like Steve said, the little things do count! Slow and steady wins the race. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are all so very right and thank you for your comments. I'm not giving up and I just have to worry about myself and not anyone else. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think just the fact that you have stuck with it consistently since May says a lot about how determined you are. Irregardless of the speed of the progress, the line is trending downward and that's what is important!

    I'm proud of all you have accomplished.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I totally understand. I am stuck too! I go up.. down.. up... down... it is driving me crazy!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Totally know where you're coming from.

    ReplyDelete