It has been four weeks since I started taking this weight loss thing seriously again, counting calories and working out regularly. So far it has gone amazingly well. For the most part I have had substantial losses every week, and even this past week, which was far from ideal in terms of food, I lost a little weight.
But there was something I noticed about that weigh-in yesterday. I weighed myself every day for the past three days simply because I was very nervous after the last week’s food escapades. I just needed to see the scale going down. After I was still a little over last week’s weigh on Tuesday, I told myself I would be really happy as long as I didn’t gain this week. Yes, my eating was sub-par, and I guesstimated a lot of the calories for the food I ate, so I could have been way off, but I also worked out a lot.
Yesterday morning I weighed in and was down 0.2kg (0.4lbs). And I was … disappointed. It is so weird, just the evening before my weigh-in I was so sure I would be happy with anything but a gain and when it actually came to the weigh-in I felt like I could have done better. Why is that?
I think one of the hardest things about losing weight is having patience. Not giving up or getting discouraged. Having endurance. Keeping your motivation high. Living healthily is something I want to do for the rest of my life but I do not want to be losing weight for the rest of my life. I know, I didn’t gain all this weight overnight and it’s going to take a while to take it off, but seeing the number on the scale go down every week is an instant reward and motivation that keeps me going. And the more substantial the loss, the happier I am because I know I will reach my goal all the sooner. A small loss can be frustrating because it means you will take longer to make your goal weight.
I don’t define myself by my weight but being that I am doing this on my own, it is how I motivate myself. I have lost nearly 11 pounds so far, and a close friend of mine has told me she can tell I have lost weight, but I cannot really tell a difference when I look into the mirror. The number on the scale, though? I can see it going down. It is undeniable proof that what I am doing is working. So it matters.
Weeks like this past week just remind me that it is so important to take it day by day. Losing weight takes time and it’s hard work and I need to be patient. Regardless of how long it takes, it will come off. Any success, regardless of how small it is, is worthy of celebration. A loss is a loss. And when I take a step back and look at the larger picture, I am still doing amazingly well.
It is important to focus on attainable short-term goals. I want to lose a total of 70 pounds but if that is all I think about, it seems impossible. Focusing on getting under 200 pounds, reaching a BMI of under 30 – these are goals that are attainable within a few weeks. By keeping goals small and manageable, I keep my motivation up. Nothing is more important than being motivated to lose weight. How can you dedicate yourself to something that is as hard as this lifestyle change is, when you are not motivated?
Last but not least, always remember to take a step back and look on what you have already accomplished. When a week has not gone as well as you were hoping, take a step back and look at what you have already achieved. It’s worth it. And you are making progress. Don’t let disappointments derail you, they do not even compare to everything you have already achieved and will continue to achieve.
Today, I am 10.8 pounds lighter than I was four weeks ago. My BMI has improved from 33.7 to 32.0. I can run five-minute intervals when four weeks ago I didn’t run at all. I work out four times a week as opposed to not working out at all a month ago. I watch my calorie intake, I eat more healthily, and I snack a lot less. I have already made huge progress. I will keep making progress, losing weight, improving my diet and generally getting healthier. Regardless of this week’s weigh-in, I am so proud of the dedication I have shown and the hard work I have put in over the past month. I can do this. I will do this.
Do you ever struggle after a weigh-in has been disappointing? How do you make sure not to get discouraged and keep up your motivation?
I haven’t been working out or paying attention to calories in 2 months, and also haven’t weighed myself. I am dead scared of stepping on that scale now – not because I have gained everything back or because a specific number means I’m back to “fat” from “slightly over-weight” or whatever artificial things there are by which to measure success and failure. Only because, as you said, the numbers on the scale change quicker than what you see in the mirror and it can be a great motivator – but it can also be extremely de-motivating. Getting serious about weight loss again after the 2 months break and beginning it with a hugely demoralizing weigh-in would just suck. :/
But good on you for making great progress! I’m so glad, and impressed by how well you’re doing!
I really loved this sentence, by the way: “Living healthily is something I want to do for the rest of my life but I do not want to be losing weight for the rest of my life.” Completely agree with that!
Sweetie, hop on the scale now.
Getting serious about weight loss again after the 2 months break and beginning it with a hugely demoralizing weigh-in would just suck.
That is true but imagine what it will be like after a 3 or 4 or 5 month break. Throughout my entire weight-gaining period I never stopped the weekly weigh-ins, so I did know exactly where I stood (and never had to talk myself into weighing in again).
Unless you are planning to lose some weight and then weigh in? Do you think you can do that?
Besides, do you really think you’ve gained weight in the past two months? How do your clothes fit?