Reality Check
Last week, I proclaimed loud and strong that I was going to get my health and body in order. I was going to do all these amazing things, and by making it public I was sharing with all of you across the interwebs my goals, dreams, aspirations, and hope.
Then, the week started. I started strong! When the following Wednesday arrived (my self-proclaimed check-in day), I almost cried. For about 5 minutes.
I stepped on the scale to see what my progress looked like.
You guys. The scale moved UP. What the what?
I rushed out into the kitchen to tell Math Man what had happened. Surely the hotdog I’d had on the 4th of July didn’t add the pound and a half that was showing on the scale. Our conversation went something like this:
Me: I freaking gained a pound and a half.
Him: Move the scale.
Me: What? Move the? Why!?
Him: It’ll be a lower number if you move it a few inches.
Me: (blank stare)
Him: Seriously, just move the scale. Then, you’ll have lost weight. (Chuckle)
Me: NO! That is not the point of this!
It was a total dude versus dudette moment. He was trying to make light of my frustration, but I needed him to become a girlfriend for a moment and curse the scale. Tell me it had to be wrong. Express his utter confusion at how it could possibly have moved the opposite direction of what I’d expected.
Alas, he’s not a girlfriend and is 100% male. He just answered me with a practical solution.
Wednesday was yet another turning point in my journey. Another “screw it” moment where I had a serious reality check. Here’s why I’m pretty sure that the scale didn’t move in the direction I’d hoped:
- I ate better, but that didn’t mean I ate well.
- I had moved/wiggled/exercised two times. Y’all, that’s not going to help my situation.
- I am still not sleeping the proper amount of hours. (We’re binge watching Dexter. I cannot even express how addicted to this show I am. Blog post in the making.)
So Wednesday began the new new me. I went for a 2 mile walk. I ate even better. The “worst” meal of the day was at VBS when we had spaghetti, salad and ice cream. But even then, that’s not so horrible. And I worked it off by basically never sitting down the whole almost-5 hours I was at the church.
Thursday and Friday, I walked another two miles on the treadmill. It’s hot as Hades out there, so I opted for an inside walk with Jimmy Fallon on YouTube (which, by the way, really makes the time pass) and the fan in my face. I finished each walk with sit ups to target the mom belly I can’t seem to beat.
This week’s goals are to really focus on that daily walk of 2 miles or more and eating better. No more late night chip binges. Water, peanut butter, carrots. That’ll do me.
How do you pick yourself back up after you’ve fallen and realized what you did wrong?
You did amazing picking yourself back up and getting back at it! There’s always a new day and progress is progress, no matter how small.
I honestly think that is the hardest part. For me, I am working through NOT considering it all a failure if I have one bad day. That’s my biggest struggle.
Yes. And it’s MUCH harder as I get older. I always thought that was a “dumb” thing that people said but it is OH SO true.
I sooo needed to see this for motuvation. I’m also trying to get rid of my mom belly and get discouraged easily. Thank you!
The discouragement is so hard. I know that the “mom belly” is sort of like my trophy from all that hard work, but it has certainly gotten out of hand. I let it. I’ve gotta take back control!
Awesome job brushing it off and pushing forward! I had a health coach for 6 months and we weighed and measured me weekly that whole time with a fancy scale that also measured body fat and hydration. What I learned is that the scale lies. It’s only knew number and there’s a whole lot more going on. I always gained the week of my period. I lost tons of inches when the scale went up or stayed the same. The whole system is complex. What you did in terms of eating well,sleeping, and moving more is way more important than the number on the scale and if you add in more measurements it’s great for motivation to see progress in different areas depending on where your body is on that day. Great job! Keep going!
You’re right. Measurements certainly make a huge difference. And thank you for the vote of confidence!
Thanks for sharing! I need to jump on your bandwagon and get healthy!
Join me!! 😉
Eating right and exercise is something I have never gotten right. Baby steps will work as long as you continue to work towards your goal. Thanks for sharing
Baby steps for sure. I continue to remind myself that this won’t happen overnight — I’m not in my early 20s anymore. Ha!
Give yourself a break! Rome wasn’t build in a day 🙂
Very true, and good reminder. It’s hard, though, when you’re staring at Rome’s non-movement every day. LOL.
Hello! I totally understand your frustration. I believe that sometime these moments of frustration can be turned into motivation. Sometimes you need to fall in order to push yourself even harder to succeed. This goes for any challenge you face in life. You got this! Don’t give up! 🙂
Thank you, Candis. You are so totally right. My frustration with myself is definitely a great motivator!!
1. Our scale is that way too. One week I got so exited because I had lost like 7 pounds!! Turns out the scale was barely resting on the quarter round in the corner. Oh well.
2. Download PokemonGO and you’ll get tons of exercise!