From 1 Pound to the Next

There’s something I’ve been wanting to share for a while.

I’m losing weight!

*insert round of applause, cheering, and/or encouraging words of affirmation*

Last fall I started trying to eat healthier, work-out more, and shed the excess pounds. With some incredible support from my friends and family, it’s all paying off. Before the month is over, I hope to meet one of my bigger goals: My weight will finally start with the number 1.

It’s been a slow process for me. While at times frustrating, I believe that the slower pace is actually the best thing. I’m not just changing the number on the scale, I’m figuring out and ingraining healthy habits into my lifestyle. Nothing about my plan is a quick-fix. This is more than getting into a smaller size bathing suit for the summer (though that’s definitely happening!). After 7 months of this, I’ve lost nearly 30 pounds.

That’s 1 pound per week on average.

Like I said, slow…. But it’s fine because “all good things are upstream.” Every day, every choice, every bite gets me just a little closer to my goals. Not to long ago, before I started this blog, I wrote about this topic on my World Race blog. I remember the evening I wrote it very clearly. It was the night before a weigh-in at one of my Weight Watchers meetings, and I absolutely believed that the next day I was going to reach a milestone… lose 10% of my starting weight. If you want to read that blog, feel free. But I’ll say it honestly here, I doubt I would have had that rare moment of vulnerability if I didn’t believe that I was absolutely going to reach my goal the next morning.

Did you notice there were no follow-up posts about that day? That’s because I didn’t hit my goal the next morning. Actually, I ended up gaining a little and it took two more weeks to hit that dang goal.

My own blog about courage, failing forward, and staying the course… I had to eat those words for 2 more weeks. Naturally as I near my next goal of dropping out of the 200’s for good, I’m thinking about that incident. This blog is written with a bit more humility and understanding.

I’m learning so much through this process. I’m learning about eating healthy, being physically fit, and tons about myself. Do you know why Jillian and Bob have to operate as counselors on The Biggest Loser? It’s because it’s absolutely true that as you peel away the layers and pounds, you uncover some big presuppositions about your identity and your past.

Without the fears and lies I’ve always had, I’m finally allowing myself to be me.

I want to share more about my process, plans, failures, and successes on this blog. There’s still a long journey ahead and some milestones, goals, and accomplishments along the way. Here’s a little list of what you can expect to read more about:

• Weight Watchers and how their program is helping me so much.
• Working out with Ava… I could write an entire blog themed to her killer workouts.
• Identity and Physical Appearance
• Fun recipes… like the Hot Apple Stir-fry and Vanilla Ice cream I made on Tuesday night.
• The importance of having buddies help you out.
• Shopping… and why it’s so much more fun now.
• Setting goals, being disciplined, and how hard work pays off.
• The 13.1 Atlanta Half-Marathon and all the training leading up to it.

Yep. You read the last part right… I’m posting this blog and then going to sign up for a half-marathon. I’ve never ran a 5k and currently can’t run an entire mile without stopping. This could be a hilarious set of blogs.

I’m excited to share what I’ve learned. Do you have any ideas or requests on this particular topic? What do you want to hear about?