Oooops. Off track. Yikes!
Time to restart! Pull out the non-negotiables. Here we go!
The pants are too tight and some clothes don’t fit at all. My regular exercise routine has been temporarily interrupted for medical reasons. My motivation has waned.
The truth is, I’m happy, comfortable and having fun, but not as focused on healthy living, or as diligent about living from the center of my equation as I usually am, and as I need to be. As a result, things are slipping out of my comfort zone.
There is only one answer: Restart! No excuses. No tomorrow. It’s today. Are you with me?
I’ve blogged a lot about how great it feels to have maintained my -200 lb weight loss for almost two years now. But, I have also noted how challenging this has been. At times, far more difficult than losing the weight in the first place.
Well, I’m admitting today that I’m in a challenging patch. I’ve fallen too far afield from my healthy lifestyle. The scale is too high — meaning my weight is above my comfort range for maintenance (yes, I monitor this closely.) My eating patterns and behaviors have gotten sloppy. And, my recent attempts to get back on track these past few days have failed.
So, starting now, I am back on track. This is the restart.
Let’s face it. I’m not perfect. We’re not perfect. And things don’t always go well. Sometimes we slip and fall, and sometimes that turns into a downward slope. When I get off track or feel things slipping too far afield from my newly defined comfort zone. I restart. And I don’t just say it, I do it. Today, I actually need your help to do so. Thus, the blog.
My strategy when I struggle is to go immediately back to what worked for me in fat loss. To my list of non-negotiables. I make myself accountable — both to myself and publicly (it helps me). I share my story and know others can relate. I remind myself that I can do this, and I will! There are no excuses. And I put myself 100% back squarely in the equation.
My list of non=negotiables include getting back on the strict food plan with no room for slippage around the edges. Same with my exercise routine, getting plenty of sleep, keeping my work in balance, and not hiding behind excuses. I also track my food and my exercise daily — again for accountability, focus and so I can see my progress as it moves in the right direction.
Learning to restart in short order when things got off track was perhaps the single most important factor in my weight loss. But, it is even MORE important in maintenance. Too much slippage on my overall definition of healthy living and wholla — I am 10 pounds or more up and the pants are tight. But often for a compulsive overeater or food addict, it’s worse. We let in foods and behaviors that do not serve us well and it becomes a slippery slope.
For me, that slippery slope ends today. Excuses like vacation (it’s over), travel for work (do it all the time), and can’t work out (not really, just can’t do what I was used to and only for about another week or so) — they are over, done, no more. There is no, “I will try.” I am back on track and I will! I am living healthy and I am inviting you to do the same.
Anyone in the same boat who might want to join me? We’ll support each other. Let me know by sharing here and here we go!
We’ve got this. Of course. 🙂
This is really what I needed to read this morning. I am full of excuses and just need to hit re-start in my life. I enjoy reading your blog and your honesty is great. You are a great motivation to me and many others! Thank you!
Hi Jaime, great to hear from you. I appreciate your post. Those excuses sneak in there so easily don’t they. For me they were always the symptom of something else going on — fear, shame, sometimes even failure of success. I learned I have to have an eye out for those evil excuses and be an excuse buster. I think it would be fun to write a blog sometime (in fact, I think I will) about all the great excuses we come up with for not putting ourselves first. You can do this girl! Let me know how I can support you here or in private. And thanks so much for your comment. These comments mean more to me than you know. Have a great day, week, weekend!! We’ve got this.
Yes, I am in the same boat, and will join you too! I’ve gained weight back lately, and just can’t seem to get back on track. This is just what I need, at just the right time.
Love your blog and your emails–thank you for sharing your story. You are a great inspiration! Kathleen
Hi Kathleen, great to hear from you. Thanks for your post and for being brave enough to jump in. Just as sure as I know I will get back on track and have it within me, I know you do as well. That was the huge gift of my journey and going from self-doubt to totally confidence that I can do anything I set my mind to. And if I can do it, I know others can. Let me know how I can support you either here or in private. And congrats on being all in! We’ve got this girl. Let’s go!
I’ve hit a serious plateau for 2 months now and I have 25 pounds to go. Funny I just blogged about this same thing. I need to get over feeling sorry for myself that the changes that need to be made to get the next 5 off require yet again more slicing of food portions and more hitting the road. I’m with you girl!!!
Hi lora, thanks so much for sharing here. Let’s do this. Those plateau’s can be about as tough as the upward swings truth be told if we let them mess with our minds. The thing is, just as sure as I know I will get back in the healthy zone and mode, I know you will get those last 25 pounds off. And I know this because you posted, if I’m not mistaken you have lost a lot already, and the number one thing I learned in my -200 lb fat loss journey is that I/we are all capable of anything we set our minds to. Too often we let our minds stop us and often it manifests as fear, shame and/or excuses as the symptom. Now that I know this, and have proven I can do anything, I tackle it knowing I will succeed. It makes all the difference. I had a great 100% spot on day yesterday after writing the blog. I hope you did too. Let me know how I can support you here, or in private. Let’s go girl!
Hey you,
Your wrong about one thing, you are perfect and have been since I’ve known you. You just hit a little blip on the path. You will get back to where you want to be. Just listen to your body and remember . You are a strong women and it’s fun “seeing” you on Facebook and your blog. Big hugs and lots of love.
Hi sweetie! So great to hear from you and to know you are out there. Thanks so much for your wonderful message and ongoing suppoet even after all these years. You’re the best. I miss you. Might be time for a Women in Leadership retreat. Hugs! This note means more than you know. And I’m doing great.