Weight Loss Journal – Week 1 (4.13.15)
When it comes to losing weight, I have a breaking point. I have a number in mind that I refuse to let myself go over. It has been almost 3 years since I lost 25 pounds, and I have gained it all back plus some. I have surpassed my number. I admit I became neglectful of my health after my car accident in 2014. Even though the emergency room doctor told me I did not have a concussion because I didn’t pass out, I spent that whole summer with headaches, moments of memory loss, and working in the dark because the light hurt.
It is hard for me to admit that I became depressed. Maybe not clinically, but I was definitely feeling sorry for myself. I was enjoying the last year of my 20s and had all these plans. I had created a “30 before 30” bucket list. Because I live in Colorado, a lot of them included outdoor activities, such as white water rafting and climbing a 14-er (14,000+ foot mountain). With my head not right, I couldn’t do any of these things. I became lazy and started buying all my lunches from the cafeteria in my office building. Everything comes on bread. There is a salad bar, but if I ever ate from there, I loaded my salad with dressing and croutons.
I heard something right before Easter that kind of snapped me back into reality. I was listening to a short talk by Matthew Kelly, who explained that there is a difference between pleasure and happiness. Pleasure is temporary, such as when we eat food. Happiness is eternal. I already knew this but I just needed to hear it again. Sometimes I confuse the two and think that pleasure will lead to happiness. In the middle of the work day, sometimes I felt I needed that temporary pleasure of eating a really amazing sandwich. But it never fails that I always feel gross and lethargic afterwards.
There is no miracle pill, no miracle diet, no miracle procedure for weight loss. Healthy weight loss comes with diet, exercise, and TIME. We all want skinny right now! It can’t happen that way. So each week I will set a specific goal, not necessarily how much weight to lose that week, but a healthy lifestyle choice.
Week 1 Goal – Avoid eating out, including the office cafeteria, for 7 days.
I’m not saying I will never eat out again, because that is an unrealistic goal. This is doable, even if I have plans already for tonight to go to a pub for a talk. I can eat at home before I go listen to the talk. I can still enjoy the company of friends without eating pub food.
Now this is the part I hate – admitting my number. *cringe*
Week 1 (Starting) Weight – 191.2 lbs.
Will you join me? Will you follow my goals or make your own? Come back every Monday for my weight loss update!