Today’s Transformation Day 2012 challenge update brings mixed news. The number on the scale has been disappointing to say the least, but every day brings new insight into the process and my journey to health and freedom!
This morning, I weighed in at 265.6 pounds. That means I’ve lost a total of 13.2 pounds in 8 weeks. I’m actually up a pound from last week, and I’m up 1.6 pounds since September 1, but I keep reminding myself that this is going to be a process. There are still so many things that I can do, and nowhere on that list can I find the “stand on the scale and wish the number down” action item.
This past week brought some interesting events for me though. On Saturday, I hit my lowest weight yet during this challenge — 261.2. Given my weight from this morning, I don’t know if it was a scale fluke or the quantity of salty, processed meats that I ate yesterday. My suspicion is that it had much more to do with the meats. I’m still retaining water in my legs, and that’s not something I’m used to experiencing.
I’ve also been helping one of my best friends through some challenges. On Saturday, she finally made it through one successful low-carb day. Then came Sunday and another day of success! Today, when I sent her home, she really seemed to benefit from the few days that she spent with me and my family. We had some good talks, I shared some of Tom Naughton’s stuff with her, we salvaged as much food as possible from her freezer, and we accomplished some grown-up stuff too. I think she needs more time like we had this weekend; it really seemed to help her, and I felt refreshed as well.
I can’t believe I’m only eight weeks into this challenge. When I started, I thought that it was going to be pretty cut and dry. Pick a positive preparedness action item and focus on it. I didn’t know that this early in the game, my journey would be so much more than the stereotypical “go on a diet and be miserable”.
My journey is taking me on the kinds of side trips that I never expected. I never thought that I’d be at peace with the scale. I never expected to gain the kind of emotional awareness that I’ve found lately. And I certainly never thought that I might be able to help others who’re stuck where I was not too long ago.
Despite the challenges with the numbers on my scale, as always, I remain optimistic. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t feel the tiniest bit disappointed over the scale craziness, but the numbers on the scale aren’t dictating (or even affecting) my outlook. I know that while I can control my water, exercise, eating, sleep, and the rest, I can’t will the number on the scale to change. Truly understanding that fact is one of the most valuable pieces of insight that’s going to make this journey so much more enlightening for me. If I’m not focusing on the scale, it’s a lot easier to see all the other sights along the way.
I expect that a lot of these new-found insights will carry over into other aspects of our family preparedness. Right now, I’d say that one of the most important is, and will continue to be, a positive attitude. Remaining positive in times of adversity really seems to make a big difference, and that’s something that I hope to share with my husband and teach my children as well. Silly as it sounds, Yoda’s words couldn’t make more sense to me. “Do or do not. There is no try.” We’re not going to try to succeed, try to reach our goals, try to have a good day. We’re just going to set out and do it with a positive attitude!
Enjoy reading your posts. I’m starting on the low carb way of eating…again, as I realize one of the best things that can be done to prepare for the future is to get in shape as much as possible!
Right now, trying to overcome discouragement over past failures is a BIG challenge.
Anyhow, thanks you for sharing your journey and being an encouragement.
Blessings!
First, thank you for your kind words. As I’ve said many times before, I don’t feel worthy to inspire. I too have a track record of failure. I start every new day with determination though that today, THIS DAY, I can do it.
I know what it’s like to feel discouraged by a legacy of failures. To that, all I can say is that once you’re determined, use planning as a tool. Plan to succeed. Your planning will carry you through those early, tough times. Then, once you don’t need the planning as much, your good habits will carry you through.
I’ve also learned that focusing on the future does nothing but provoke anxiety. Break your success into managable chunks. Don’t focus on how you failed in the past or how you’ll fail next week. Plan and then just “do”.
Good luck!