Ever get stuck in a rut on your diet? You do all the right things, make all the right sacrifices, and eat all the right Acai berries, and then—nothing happens. Maybe you start a new diet, lose a few pounds right away, and then stop. What happens then? What do you typically do?
If you’re like most people (including me), you get discouraged. Dieting is hard enough when it’s going well. It’s nearly impossible when it’s not going anywhere at all. When confronted with that next donut, you’re only a millimeter away from making the wrong decision. And nine falls out of ten, you eat the donut. (I know I have.)
But my current diet seems to be going well. In fact, it’s not a diet at all. Regular readers know I’m eating burgers, and pizza, and Cheez-Its, and still losing weight. But I also eat my awesome vegetable soup, and apples, and—yes, every once in a while something green that isn’t actually a jalapeno pepper. In short, I think I might have actually made that dreaded lifestyle change. I’m not out of the woods yet, but after 255 days, this still feels pretty real.
My point today is that there were many, many times I couldn’t see that. I’d see the weeks and weeks where the weight didn’t seem to change. (Never mind the weeks and weeks where all it did was go up.) And you might be in that same boat right now. You’re doing all the right things, making all the right sacrifices, and even avoiding the Acai berries. Well, guess what? You may be closer than you think. Looking back, I now see that I was. So instead of getting discouraged, think, “Yes! I am doing all the right things. It may not pay off tomorrow, or next week, but it WILL pay off.”
And if that doesn’t work, just think of the scene in Cast Away where Tom Hanks rubbed sticks together in an attempt to make fire. Nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, nothing, and then—poof!—FIRE!
Think about it.
on April 9, 2009 at 6:49 am
Does this post ever hit home today. I agree with you Charlie that I feel I’m doing the right thing, by logging my food choices, exercising 6 days out of 7 and staying completely away from the “donuts”.
But right now I would say my weight is like the sticks being rubbed in Castaway and all I’m getting is rain and blisters.
on April 9, 2009 at 6:52 am
I feel the same way!! I’m actually sort of stunned and amazed because I’ve been “at it” since January and it seemed along the way that I had so many plateau-periods, and some gains, and I was so discouraged, but.. I’ve lost 20 pounds. AND I’ve eaten things that I would never have dreamed possible “on a diet.” I think the lifestyle change is happening, which is shocking to me because I’ve been “trying” to do this for probably 25 years and have never been able to. But finally, now… fire!!! (love the analogy AND the photo)
on April 9, 2009 at 7:50 am
Good luck with this is all I can say… cuz we all know.. it’s NOT the loosing weight that’s hard. It’s the keeping it off, that does me (and millions others) in.
on April 9, 2009 at 8:08 am
Great post Charlie!
It’s just like in WW. People would weigh in, maybe be up .5 and say “but I was perfect, I was within my points, I worked out 5 days and nothing!”
You can’t expect the last 7 days to automatically “show up” on weigh in day. It’s the big picture!
That’s why I decided to weigh/measure myself once a month. It’s too hard to deal with the day to day fluctuation, which means nothing – maybe one day I had too much salt in my diet, didn’t drink enough water, etc.
Good job Charlie!
on April 9, 2009 at 8:48 am
I agree 1000% Charlie. It’s all about what happens in the long run.
I woke up with a headache this morning and didn’t want to go to the gym. At one point in my workout, this little old lady (75ish) who is there doing the circuit every day walks over to me and says: “Has anyone told you it’s working?” “Uh, excuse me?” “Has anyone told you that whatever you’re doing is working. If not, let me be the first to say it. I noticed this morning, your whole profile has slimmed down. Keep up the good work!”
Thanks lady, I needed that, because while my progress seems slow, it is the overall picture.
on April 9, 2009 at 12:21 pm
Great post! I’ve spent over 2 years on this endeavor (and think I’ve made the dreaded lifestyle change as well), and I’ve gotten frustrated with it… well, probably about as much as you can imagine because you’re in the same boat. But I’ve never left a month heavier than when I started it, and even if it’s only been 1-2 lbs a month, after a while, that adds up. If I would have given up, say, back in September when I was having major mental meltdowns, I would not have been almost 20 lbs lighter. Sure it took me 6 months, but it still happened!
on April 9, 2009 at 12:46 pm
“I’ve never left a month heavier than when I started it, and even if it’s only been 1-2 lbs a month, after a while, that adds up.”
I love that, Quix!!
on April 9, 2009 at 4:36 pm
Wow! You are SO right! This weight loss thing is really a battle of persistance and consistency. 6 months down the line, I see that too! And I was ready to give up 20lbs ago too! Funny how it works 🙂
Here’s to the new lifestyle!
Tusc 😀
on April 9, 2009 at 11:51 pm
Love this post Charlie. I think I’ve finally had my A-Ha moment. Those times in my life when my weight was low, I wasn’t so obsessed with it. It was, (here’s the A-HA), a lifestyle.
on April 10, 2009 at 4:22 pm
A good attitude to have. Gotta keep that long term focus!