Giving Up on Weight Loss
The past few weeks have been rough. It all started with the cake at Benjamin’s birthday party and just went downhill from there. Many times during this time period I have felt like giving up on weight loss and just accepting that I’m going to be morbidly obese for the rest of my life.
But yesterday changed my mind.
As I mentioned last week, I gained 2.4 lbs the week before after having eaten cake and then all the other junk food that I crave on a regular basis. I felt motivated by getting it all out and I was ready to conquer this weight after writing that post. Then my period hit and chocolate cravings returned and I just felt once again like giving up on weight loss for good. It’s such a daily struggle with having so much weight to lose and my hypoglycemia that makes my blood sugar drop and makes me crave sweets. But, I’m not throwing in the towel just yet.
I lost 1.2 lbs this week!
I’m back over 40 lbs lost! (Howard lost 1.2 lbs also!) This is the news that I really needed after trying so hard this week and occasionally failing, but then getting back up the next day and going at it again. I must have done something right or maybe the weight loss fairy decided to just give me a break this week. For whatever reason, I lost, and I’ll take it and run with it!
This morning I made a declaration (to myself and my husband, at least, and now to you all reading this) that I am going to eat RIGHT for the next 20 days straight. Why 20 days? Well, for one, I have to set small goals for myself. There’s no weight number that I’m trying to achieve this time (although getting to 50 lbs lost would be nice – 10 more lbs to go!) and I’m just setting a day number. And because my birthday is March 19 and I want to treat myself to Red Lobster for my birthday. I can eat “right” at Red Lobster, but I know I will want at least one biscuit and if I’m “good” for 20 days straight then I’ll deserve it.
I know, I know, I should not “reward” myself with food, but this is how I’m reconciling it in my head so please just go with me on this one, this one time, pretty please?!
So…with all of that said, here are 5 reasons why I’m not giving up on weight loss this time.
1. I’m going to conquer this demon of weight loss.
I will accept that I may not win every battle every day, but I will win this war, and I’ll be darn proud of every pound I lose.
2. My boy deserves a healthy mom.
I wouldn’t accept it if someone else were being unhealthy toward my son, so why would I accept him having an unhealthy mom?
3. I deserve to be healthy.
I love myself and I love who I am (most of the time) and I want to love myself even more as I become healthier.
4. My friends are cheering me on.
You all come here every week to see how I’ve done and cheer me on (or pick me up when I fall) and you deserve to see some success. You all don’t deserve to read my whining and my failures week after week. This series is going to be a positive one with a positive outcome.
5. I don’t want surgery.
Howard and I have been tossing around the idea of surgery for weight loss and we’re not ruling it out. Last year when we were talking about it, I would have been the first to go through it, but this year I feel more motivated to get healthy the natural way. Howard has serious health issues and probably needs the surgery so that we don’t lose him while he’s struggling to get the weight off. I don’t know if he’s going to go through with it, but whatever we decide (or he decides) I’m going to be right by his side. I’m not ready for the surgery right now, but I think he would benefit from it right now.
I think we all have a point where we feel like giving up, but you are doing great! Keep with it, and remember the reasons that you are doing it….like you have laid out here in this post. That will help keep you strong!
My husband is going through the same thing right now and recently lost over 40lbs! I’m so proud of him and I’m sure your family is proud of you!
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Thank you so much for the encouragement, Jesica!
You…almost gave me a heart attack!!! I read your subject and the first line and quit breathing. Then…I read “yesterday changed my mind” and I sighed the hugest sigh of relief. (ok – I sighed a bigger sigh of relief when I thought I lost my car key at the amusement park or locked it in my car but found I had left it in my unlocked car. I actually cried. But this is 2nd to that.)
Keep on keeping on!!!!!!! I “started over” again yesterday. (This is the 3rd time in the last 13 days.)
Surgery: I’m just going to make one comment even though your decision is none of my business. Remember that being overweight is caused from overeating. Surgery doesn’t magically change your heart and your mind about eating. I don’t know about you, but my brain completely neglects telling me when my stomach is full until I am waaaaaaaaaaaay past the point of no return.
And, congratulations on the 1.2 pounds gone! I hope this and looking forward to your birthday keep you motivated to keep on your 20 day challenge. (And, frankly, I see nothing wrong with rewarding yourself with food. I look at it more like saving a special occasion for when you’ve earned it. Like, I want to try a Mongolian grill that I’ve never been to, but I decided I need to get 26.4 pounds off first – which is now 23.8 pounds. Gives you something to look forward to while maintaining control in the meantime.)
Mari, I truly had you in mind when I came up with that title #truestory! I just knew your jaw would drop.
Funny story about losing your key at the park – When my aunt was 18 she went to Six Flags over Texas and lost her purse. They never found it until one day 20 years later, she received a call that they had FOUND her purse! She was in the newspaper and showing off the contents of her purse because they said it was like an untouched time capsule. That was her 15 minutes of fame.
Thank you so much for all your support. Sometimes when I think about giving up I think about readers like you who are watching and that accountability really does help!
Wow! That is amazing!
Things have been really rough in our house this week. My husband lost his job on Wednesday, and it has been a shock for so many reasons. It’s a really long story, but emotions are absolutely raw here. Very hard times. Their letting him go was a kick in the teeth (and a really long story), so it’s kind of tough for him to move on.
@standingfirm211…I think you’re doing a great job…I think instead of focusing on the number focus on doing everything right each day & at the end of the week look back & know I’m making strides…the numbers will come. Strive for consistency & not perfection. And, if you eat clean & workout consistently all week, by all means reward yourself. Just my take!!
Thank you so much for your support!
Hi Janet, Congratulations on your weight loss! I’m also trying to loose weight. I have lost 24 pounds and have around 60 pounds to go. My big vice is sugar so I have eliminated it from my diet. I still have cravings for it. My husband is overweight too and when he was diagnosed with diabetes and can’t have sugar we are doing this together. I have thought about weight loss surgery but I would rather loose it the old fashioned way. There will be days when I slip up (I had ice cream last week) but I’m back on track and it’s great that you are too.
I know this sounds weird, but sometimes I wish for a diagnosis that would “force” me into eating healthier, but I know that I don’t really want that. I also know that it is close to inevitable because everyone in my family has ultimately been diagnosed with diabetes.