Press On Through Discouragement

April has been a month full of celebrations. My birthday, Easter, our wedding anniversary and our oldest daughter's birthday all fall within the short month of April.  Staying on track during times of celebration is really hard, because nobody celebrates with broccoli, it's always sugar and fat, and yummy.

Despite the list of celebrations, I tried to make wise choices.  I opted for water instead of sweetened drinks, used a smaller plate and picked restaurants with smaller portions.  To counter act the extra "things" I also increased my daily steps and am consistently hitting between 10k and 12k steps per day.  By the end of April, I was back to eating raw veggies and lean proteins for most meals, and the weight just kept climbing.  I was so frustrated and discouraged.

I kept eating right and drinking water, walking and feeling like a failure all the while. The scale showed I'd gained back all but 4 pounds of the weight I'd lost in the first couple of months.  How in the world is that even possible?

Then a weird thing happened. Warning, TMI...  On Thursday morning, I did all the regular things then headed to the grocery store, where I bought veggies and hummus and all the healthy things.  While I was out, I had to go pee twice, and I wasn't gone that long.  I got home and I continued to run to the restroom.  Friday morning, I literally couldn't go on my morning walk because I was running to the bathroom every few minutes.  By Friday evening, I was back to "normal", and on Saturday when I weighed in, I was showing a 3 pound weight loss from the morning before.

What I realized is that the sugars and salt in the celebratory foods had caused inflammation.  After a couple of days of eating right and drinking more, my body suddenly released all that fluid it had been holding and the scale took a drastic change overnight.  

So, here's the thing, we have to keep making the best choices and keep doing the right things.  The body will respond in time, but we have to not let our "feelings" talk us into giving up when it appears we're stuck and the scale refuses to move, or moves in the wrong direction.

"Do what's right.  Do it right.  Do it because it's right."

Weight Loss Wednesday #8

 

Frustrated doesn't begin to cover where I'm at right now.  I've increased my walking, and have been consistently getting over 12,000 steps per day for the last 9 out of 10 days.  My evening blood pressure numbers are great, in the 120/75 range and sometimes even lower.   Yet, the scale shows that I've regained 7 of the 11 pounds I'd previously lost.

I'll just keep plugging along and hope at some point there's a huge shift, because this is just crazy.

Weight Loss Wednesday #7

 

At the end of last week, I was down a total of 8.2 pounds.  This week, the scale did move in the right direction, and I'm at an 8.9 pound loss total.  

What's Working:  I sat down and wrote out a daily checklist for eating, exercising and supplements.  I do better with a box to check.  It keeps me accountable.

What's Not Working:  I feel like I've lost an entire month of progress just trying to get back to where I was at the end of March.  So, I'm struggling with staying motivated when hard work can be upended so easily/quickly.   But, I'm not giving up.

New Walking Shoes For the Win!

I tend to be a frugal person, both out of necessity and habit.  I'm not a brand name snob, nor do I get caught up in current fashion rage.  I also don't necessarily keep up with current trends in anything, I'm pretty plain and boring, actually.

For my birthday, my best friend said she wanted to buy me a new pair of walking shoes, to help in my weight loss journey.  So, I made the two hour trek to her house, and she took me to a running shoe store there.  The store uses the Aetrex Technology to scan your feet, which shows you how your feet fall as you're walking, noting pressure points, arch status and gait.

They the salesperson matched me up to several types of shoes and we worked on finding what I liked and what felt good. The salesperson was so very nice and helpful.  She listened to my input, and didn't try to force me into a shoe I didn't like or feel comfortable in.  I ended up going with a Hoka - Clifton 8 shoe.  Now, the Hoka shoes are a bit "BOLD" in color and design, I had to work on that, honestly.  I'm more of your "basic gray" kind of gal.   However, when I put the shoes on and walked around the store I was like "Oh.my.word!"   Such a big difference in how my feet, calves and knees felt.   Well worth the price tag!!

On a side note, Hoka also makes sandals and I'm on the hunt for a pair for the summer.  I know I can order them online, but I saw that a local running store in our town carries the Hoka brand, so I thought I'd "shop local". My teen daughter and I walked in, and the sales girl disapprovingly looked me up and down several times. I asked about the sandals and she pointed to the wall where they were on display and walked away.  

I instantly knew, that because of my weight, this 20-something had already made up her mind about me, and wasn't planning on being of any help.  What she didn't know is that at her age, I was a gym rat: lean, strong and confident, and yet respectful of others.  She also didn't know that I ran, and completed the London Marathon in 1999, where I injured my knee early on, and gritted my teeth and pushed on to finish...permanently damaging my knee.  She didn't know that this body has carried and lost babies, carried and birthed babies. She didn't know that I've carried the weight of the world on these shoulders through things that likely would have crushed her.  She didn't know that she wouldn't always look like she does now.

She also didn't know that my teen daughter noticed how she treated me, and that she apologized to me for the sales girl's rudeness.  We left, without so much as a "have a nice day" from the sales girl.  Afterwards, my daughter and I had a good conversation about how to treat people, and how to show respect...and where not to spend hard earned money.

Weight Loss Wednesday #6

 

This week should be entitled "weight gain Wednesday".  I was down 11.3 pounds a few weeks ago, but I've gained .1 of a pound this week for a total weight loss of only 8.2 pounds now.  But, I'm still at a loss overall, so it's all good, right?

What's Working:  I'm still getting my steps in and tracking food/activities.

What's Not Working:  A month of celebration that revolve around food.  Birthday party, birthday lunches and now Easter have wreacked havoc on my progress.

Another Epiphany (Disguised as a Surprise)

I'm sure you've seen the movie "It's a Wonderful Life", right?  You know how, at the end of the movie, George Bailey realizes that he wasn't just a guy that gave up his dream for other people, but that he actually impacted the lives of other people for the greater good?

Well, on April 1 (the irony is not lost on me), my husband took me out to an early birthday breakfast, and then we went antique shopping.  We went to several antique malls, bought one small item and then headed home.  We have a big church right beside our home, and they were hosting an Easter Egg Hunt.  I commented to my husband that based on the amount of cars in their parking lot, it looked like they'd had an excellent turnout. 

I noticed a receipt floating around in the wind in the yard and grabbed it, and commented that somebody in the neighborhood sure ordered a lot of pizza (based on the receipt).  We came on in the house, and there, standing in my sunporch were roughly 30 of my closest family and friends, yelling "Surprise!"

My 17 year old daughter had spent the last 4 months planning a surprise birthday party for me.  I've never had a birthday party, ever, and it wasn't even on my radar screen.  She'd been getting my phone and copying everyone's phone numbers into her phone over time, texting and sneaking to get them all here.  There were friends from almost 3 hours away, that I've known for close to 30 years.  Her daughter was the first newborn I'd ever held, some 26 years prior...and there stood that girls beautiful 4 year old daughter.  My best friend, who was my maid of honor, and present at my oldest daughter's birth was there from 2 hours away.  My older brother, who has always been my closest companion and confidant was there.  My neighbor who has started going to church with me in the last 3 years and has changed her whole life around was there, beaming at me. A pagan family (yes, truly) who I know through my kids jiu-jitsu class was there.  They call us family because we walked along beside them through a health crisis that brought on a financial crisis. A local gal pal and her sons who've been through hell on earth and back was there despite all their social anxiety and aversions to crowds.  Even my in-laws were hanging out there in the back of the crowd.

The church did have a good turnout, but about 10 of those cars were people who parked there and walked to my house for the party.  The receipt floating in the yard, yeah that was the pizza delivery that had arrived at our house moments before we pulled in.  My daughter, knowing I'm on a journey to better health even ordered a salad for me, and bought a huge fruit salad so I wouldn't have to make poor food choices.  I did have cake and enjoyed every bite!

Honestly, this time in my life has been hard, because I feel like I don't have a "spot".  Homeschooling is wrapping up in about a month, the kids are basically grown and independent.  I left my career to raise a family 20 years ago, and just haven't felt like I've been "successful".  Then I looked around at the group of people that took their time to come spend the day with me, and my family who worked very hard to sneak around (NOTHING GETS BY ME, I'M STILL IN SHOCK).

For my youngest daughter to have put this much time, effort and money into such an endeavor, and pull it off exceptionally well really touched my momma heart.

So, I say all that to say, don't be weary in well doing.  Even when nobody sees but you, God knows the things you do for others.  But sometimes, he gives you a "George Bailey Moment" to let you see that it's not in vain.

Weight Loss Wednesday #5

 

As of last week, I was down a total of 11.3 pounds.  This week the scale shows I've gained 3.2 pounds, so I'm back to a loss of 8.1 pounds.   I know a great deal of that is water retention due to having had a lot of sweets and saltier foods this past weekend, but it was my birthday and I enjoyed food without guilt.

What's Working: Portion control.  My family took me out to dinner one night for my birthday, and I deliberately picked a restaurant that is known for small portions (but excellent, flavorful food).  I also chose to eat a salad and fruit salad at my surprise birthday party, so I could enjoy cake without quilt.

What's Not Working: Eating out in general.  I've cut back on my salt intake a great deal to help lower my blood pressure.  When I go out to eat, some things that I used to enjoy are just too salty.  Honestly, I have two more lunch outings scheduled with friends this week, and while I do look forward to the time with them, the food isn't sounding appealing at all.  Hopefully there are some good salad options.