If you know me or have followed my blog for any period of
time, you are most likely privy to one of my secrets- I struggle with my
weight- every.single.day.
I reached my goal (40 pounds down) back in 2012 and have
been working my behind off (literally) to maintain the weight loss. It’s not
easy; it will never be easy because- I love food! But- it’s doable. As I’ve
mentioned before, my approach this time around was different from the last time
because I refused to take any drastic measures. This time I pledged to make
small incremental changes to the way I live my life, one change at a time and
for the most part, I’m walking my talk. That doesn’t mean that I won’t have
setbacks.
This past weekend was one of those times and I want to share
it with you because I think it’s important to acknowledge when we get off track
and to have a plan to get back on track- immediately. Not after the next grad
party, not after the next barbecue or holiday- the next day!
For most of you, if I type the words Shady Maple you’ll
probably think a few things “oh no she didn’t” and “a dieters worst nightmare.”
If you’re not from the area, Shady Maple is a Smorgasbord accompanied by a
heavenly store filled with Amish delights and my biggest weakness- donuts. I
went there to get ONE donut, to squelch my craving, to eat it, track it and
move on. My husband and I stopped there on our way to visit my Mother-In-Law
and I really truly only got ONE donut for me- we didn’t even get a whole dozen.
We did get a few extras for my son and Mother-In-Law. So we show up to my
Mother-In-Law’s and she had gone out and bought us a dozen donuts!
Eeeeeeeeeeeh! After having a nice visit and my ONE donut which while eating I
might have said “if I’m on my death bed, my last wish will be this donut”, we
went on our way.
My plan for the rest of the afternoon was to get back on
track. However the magnetic pull of the box of donuts on my counter top was too
great and I not only had a second donut, I said screw this and over ate for the
rest of the day. I not only jumped ship, I dove in head first.
The good news in this sad tale is that years of behavior
changes and solid habits helped me to start fresh the next day. Here are four things
to help you to stay afloat when you jump overboard:
1) Adjust your sails.
This week on OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) I heard the best analogy. The speaker
said that too many people view life as a train ride. We hop on, go our route
and expect to arrive at our destination. She suggested that instead we look at
life as a sailboat. That there will be days when we’re trying to reach our
destination and the wind will change and take us in another direction. At that
point we either need to adjust our sails or embrace the new direction of our
journey. Don’t you just LOVE that? It so applies to weight loss. Sometimes we
can be cruising along, giving our best effort when a strong wind comes along to
throw us off course. When this happens we must remember that WE have control of
the sails and with some slight adjustments, we will soon be sailing in our
intended direction.
2) Get your bearings
and refocus your energy. Have you
ever been in the ocean when the currents get rough? Or worse been caught in a
rip current? When things get tough it’s natural to panic. I didn’t learn to
swim until the 5th grade. As some of you know, I was a bit of a
ninny. I was terrified of water (still not a big fan of swimming). As I was
learning to swim I realized that I not only needed to trust the person who was
teaching me, I needed to trust myself. When the weight loss journey gets
overwhelming, take a deep breath and be still for a moment. You can’t move
forward when you’re disoriented or flailing about. Take some time to stop and
analyze where you are. How did you get overboard in the first place? What will
it take to get back on board and to move in the right direction? Who or what
can help you get there?
3) Ask for a
lifeline. Weight loss is not a solitary journey. When taken as a solitary
journey, it can be filled with shame, doubt, frustration and anger. Whether you
belong to a weight loss group or have an accountability partner- don’t go it
alone. It’s too easy to cheat or to put off our wellness until it’s “just the
right time” in our lives. Enlist the help of someone you trust. Share your
goals with them. Ask them to hold you
accountable. Check in weekly (daily if you need to). Be honest about your
progress and your struggles. Celebrate your successes. Weight loss (and
maintenance) is hard. There is no need to be treading water when you have
someone willing and able to throw you a life preserver.
4) Choose your boat. Now
that you’ve had an attitude adjustment, gotten your bearings and asked for
help, you need to find the right vessel to take you there. If you’re following
a weight loss plan that’s been working for you and you’re just a bit stuck-
look at the plan with a fresh set of eyes, like you’re a brand new learner. Remember
what drew you to the program and your successes. I always said about Weight
Watchers that “if you work the plan it really works” and I still believe firmly
in this. If you’re not currently on a weight loss plan, find the plan that
works best for your personality and lifestyle. While I do believe that Weight
Watchers is an awesome well-balanced program, it’s not for everyone. Some of us are sailboat people, some
paddle boats, some speedboats and some canoes. You know what I mean. We all move
at different speeds and are in different parts of our journey.
I’m happy to report that I did not drown (in donuts) and
that I was only off track for one day (although it was a hell of a day) and now
that I’m eating better and moving my body again, I feel SO much better. As
you’re cruising toward your destination, don’t forget to slow down, inhale that
salt air and soak up the sun. Remember why you’re doing this- to be healthy, to
feel good, to be energized, to take care of the one body you’ve been given, to
<insert your goals here>.
Make the choice. Commit to the choice. Ask for help. Continue
with courage.
Hugs and Friendship,
Tara
