Well friends, today marks 22 months since I started on my weight loss journey and I’m happy to report that I’m still going strong, and continuing to learn things along the way! For month 22, I lost 6.6 pounds, which brings my grand total to-date to 165.3 pounds lost!
Back in January, I came to a point when I decided that I would purposely go into maintenance mode for a while, instead of trying to actively lose weight. To be honest with you, there was a little part of me that wondered how I would handle maintenance. Would I feel like I could splurge more often and end up gaining some of the weight back? Would the thought of eating more per day feel scary? Would I truly be able to maintain my losses?
Well, the answers came in a good, well-balanced way! I have spent the last three months in maintenance mode, and did not go overboard with it. I basically ate the same things I eat in loss mode, just a little more of it. I continued to track my intake and to weigh-in daily. Through the process, I discovered that my habits really have changed for the better, and I am not the same person I was before I started losing weight, where my personal health and nutrition are concerned.
About two weeks ago, as I was nearing the end of my planned maintenance season, I began to ask myself if I really wanted to jump back into losing mode or just stay on in maintenance indefinitely. After all, I reasoned, losing over 160 pounds without the aid of surgeries or specialized programs was a significant accomplishment, all of the symptoms of my back injury and reflux have been gone for a long time now, I weigh less and wear a smaller size than I did when I was 13 years old, and I have complete freedom and mobility. I asked myself if it was worth the effort to keep going on the weight loss journey.
Quickly, I realized that the answer was a resounding yes! Why? Because, I am worth it. I am worth being the best me I can possibly achieve, and part of that includes not giving up on my goals, be it with weight loss or in other areas of my life (which is why I continue to read hundreds of pages of textbooks each week and write more papers than I can count, because I WILL finally earn my degree!) And today, I want to encourage you as well. Let me remind you that you are worth pursuing your goals. Don’t give up in the middle of your journey because you’re tired, or it seems too big of a job to finish. Don’t get complacent and satisfied with the progress you’ve made part-way and never make it to the finish line. Don’t lose sight of the dreams you have in your heart and the goals you’ve set for yourself, because you can accomplish them!
I have just 59.7 more pounds to lose until I reach my goal of losing 225 pounds! What’s your goal, and what are you going to do to make sure you reach it?
DON’T FORGET:
www.facebook.com/FromPolyesterToSpandex
(Just a reminder/disclosure…I am not a medical professional or certified trainer, so anything I write in this blog is not intended to be taken as advice, guidance, or recommendations. It is simply a journal of my own personal experiences. Thanks!)
This is such an encouraging post and a huge congratulations to you!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane! I appreciate you stopping by to read and comment, and I love reading you blog posts as well!
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