There are a few things I’ve discovered and I have learned about myself on this journey.

1) When I put my mind to something I am determined to reach my goals!

I’ve learned that I need to set small attainable goals for myself. When I started I set a goal that when I lost 20lbs I would go visit my best friend Juliane. I set a goal for myself this month to try a NEW class at the gym that I can add into to weekly workouts. Every day and week I track my food and activity on my WW app.

Find what works for you, to help you reach your goals. Maybe you don’t know what will work for you, try different things until you find the one things that works for you.

2) I am more optimistic and motivated then I ever thought I was

On this journey in the beginning it was a struggle, and let’s be honest there are still struggles and will always be struggles. I would get so frustrated with myself if I had a week where I gained or only lost .6lbs I mean what is .6 lbs that’s what my pants! The point is I would get disappointed and self doubt and negative thoughts would creep into my mind. Example, I would think well I stayed with in my points (calories) and I worked out and I gained, what it’s the point! I am destined to be over weight why am I bothering. I decided to allow myself to feel these feelings and have these thoughts for only 10 minutes. I did not want to deny my feelings, but I sure as hell was not going to let them take over and control or derail me. So for me giving me that time limit worked. Then I worked on looking back at what I really did, and was HONEST with myself.

3) That if I fail or do not succeed the odds are I know what I did wrong or what I need to change to succeed.

Taking an HONEST look at what I ate or didn’t eat. Working out etc. Did I “really” track honestly? Odds probably not! Did I make up an excuse to not get my steps in or go to the gym? Probably yes. Those little lies I told myself could be part of why I was not successful!

4) That my body is just that MY BODY! And my body will not be like anyone else’s!

I learned that my body will occasionally have a large weight loss one week and then smaller losses or even a small gain the following week. I also have learned that I can on occasion sense that I will have a loss, my body feels lighter. I also knew that in the beginning my weight would come off a bit easier. I also know what foods make me retain water and bloat.

5) Found my emotional triggers! Lets be honest most of us emotional eat! Discovering what your triggers are that have you reaching for that “comfort food!”

For me being bored was a trigger, I would snack at night. When I was stressed or upset I would go for something sweet. So now I’m aware of those triggers and I have other options to reach for. If I want to snack at night I have pre cut crunch veggies. Or I actually go to gym after work most of the time so that fills some of the boredom time with activities. If I’m wanting something sweet I make sure I have fresh fruit in the house, but i have found some of the low point snacks that WW offers are just enough to curb the craving and to satisfy the need.

I found to that journaling helps too, putting thought and feeling to paper to get them out.

Part of this journey is self discover. I am learning more about my body and its relationship to the food I put into it. The relationship between my body and my mind is where I have learned the most, and I know full well I have so much more to learn. The BIG thing I have learned is that if my if MIND is not on board my BODY will not follow!

I sat down today to work on some goal setting to make sure I reach my goal weight. I want to reach my goal weight by my birthday. Now I should clarify that just hitting a certain number on the scale is NOT in anyway the end of this journey. Overall health is the main goal. So how am I going to lose 67 pounds more by September? This is how I’m going to do:

1) plan my meals and make healthy choices, yet not deprive myself of a treat

2) track my food daily- hold myself accountable to stay within my daily calories, but also to make sure I’m eating enough fruits, veggies, lean protein and carbohydrates.

3)DRINK WATER

4) movement, making sure that I am doing some type of activity everyday for min of 30 minutes, mini goal with in this one, is to try a new class at the gym? And stick with it for a month on top of the other days of exercise.

My goal is to lose on average 2.3 pounds over the next 29 weeks. I decided to make the tracking fun!

This week I’m aiming to lose that 2.3 pounds because that will put me at a total loss of 70lbs! Then I’m aiming for 5 more pounds. Small measure and attainable goals that will add up to my end result big goal.

So I have struggled these last few month with my weight loss journey. I ended flat in January, having weeks of gains and weeks of losses. February, was a slow loss month as well. Then last week Friday after having a loss the week before, I had no change. WHAT the F%$^! Is exactly what I was thinking.  I was like WHAT?  I so tracked and stayed at or below my calories everyday. I worked out. What happened? I immediately went to this better not be a lose, no change and gain kind of a month! I have a goal I want to meet and I have a deadline of when I want to get there! This is just NOT going to work.

Then I remembered something actually a couple of things. That while I may not have had a loss, I still had a win! I made healthy food choices and I moved my body. On the weeks where I gained if I looked back and the choices I made I know exactly what I did. Then there are the weeks that well.. did I work hard enough.  I celebrate what I call NSV (non-scale victories).

I also reflect on where I started and how far I have come already. Do I really want to give that all up to only have to start it all over again! I can say hell no to that.  So I sit down make a grocery list and plan my meals, and plan when I am going to workout. I attack the next week with more determination. I keep in mind that this weight and bad choices did not happen over night so nor will they vacate my body over night (as wonderful as that miracle would be).

I find motivational quotes to get me through, I remember what I want in the end, and knowing that I am NOT going to break this promise to myself no matter how rough and tough this journey is! I found some new motivation from Rachel Hollis, the 90 challenge she talks about. You can make your goal whatever you want. Check out her video.

 

I will succeed in reaching my goals, no matter what anyone thinks.

Find your motivation to help you get to your goals, whatever they are! What is your motivation?