YAYYAYYAYYAYIDIDITYAY!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOST 100 POUNDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, technically, 101.2, but who's counting? ;)
For the past few weeks, I've been obsessing over losing the last teensy bit to get me to the 100-pound mark. I didn't realize how obsessive I was until I gained .9 last week and damn near had a breakdown. I had been told by friends and told myself that it didn't need to happen by any deadline; that I had already come so far and my knowledge and change of lifestyle was a huge accomplishment by itself. Nevertheless, I was overcome by the feeling that I was letting people down and failing by not making it. Then I was reminded that this journey is about me, and I'm not failing or letting anyone down. I examined the situation, and I realized what an immense amount of pressure I was putting on myself. So I decided to switch it up a bit.
This week, I didn't track or count points at all. This not only gave me a break from the annoying stuff, but it forced me to be mindful of what I was eating. I really watched my portions and paid attention to my hunger signals. I also made a new rule for work: if I didn't bring it, I'm not eating it. I do better when I just don't have something at all than when I try to have just a little bit of something. If it's someone's birthday and there's a cake from Financier or something, sure, I'll have a little slice. But when patients, staff, or whoever brings in candy, cookies, cake, pastries, pizza, etc., I'm not having it. I was really tested in this on Tuesday night, when a patient had brought Madeleines and cookies from Financier. The cookies were all gone, and I was seriously considering eating a Madeleine. But here's the thing: I don't even really LIKE Madeleines. I have a bigger sweet tooth than they can handle, so they're not my favorite thing. So why would I even want one? I was able to recognize the urge as just a craving to chew something, so I chewed gum and was fine :) I think my biggest pitfall is the goodies at work, so eliminating them helped immensely (I'm going to stick to this rule from now on, btw).
I also decided not to weigh myself throughout the week. I needed to eliminate the obsessive elements that get me caught in my own head, and that's one of them. I reeeeeally wanted to see how I was doing, but I told myself to just continue to be mindful and my work would pay off. I did weigh myself at the end of the night last night, because there would be nothing I could do at that point to change anything, so I wouldn't be able to worry and freak out about what the scale said. I just wanted to have an idea of what to expect. Needless to say, I was delighted with a low number, and hoped it would be lower by this morning, which it was.
So, in a week during which I didn't track a single point, I managed to lose 2.5lbs. I think I'm on to something, here. I'm going to go back to tracking this week, because I know it does help me overall, but I'm going to really continue to be mindful like I was this week. This milestone is so huge and exciting, but I have to keep in mind that it is not the be-all, end-all. I do have more to lose (I'm talking to you, belly and thighs!), but not MUCH more. I'm definitely in the home stretch, and I think some reflection on the changes I've made would do me good, rather than just looking at the work I have left to do. Also, I'm going to get a sassy haircut to celebrate and donate my hair to locks for love :) Oh boy, I can't wait!!!!! I'm so happy and excited!!!!!!
Well, technically, 101.2, but who's counting? ;)
For the past few weeks, I've been obsessing over losing the last teensy bit to get me to the 100-pound mark. I didn't realize how obsessive I was until I gained .9 last week and damn near had a breakdown. I had been told by friends and told myself that it didn't need to happen by any deadline; that I had already come so far and my knowledge and change of lifestyle was a huge accomplishment by itself. Nevertheless, I was overcome by the feeling that I was letting people down and failing by not making it. Then I was reminded that this journey is about me, and I'm not failing or letting anyone down. I examined the situation, and I realized what an immense amount of pressure I was putting on myself. So I decided to switch it up a bit.
This week, I didn't track or count points at all. This not only gave me a break from the annoying stuff, but it forced me to be mindful of what I was eating. I really watched my portions and paid attention to my hunger signals. I also made a new rule for work: if I didn't bring it, I'm not eating it. I do better when I just don't have something at all than when I try to have just a little bit of something. If it's someone's birthday and there's a cake from Financier or something, sure, I'll have a little slice. But when patients, staff, or whoever brings in candy, cookies, cake, pastries, pizza, etc., I'm not having it. I was really tested in this on Tuesday night, when a patient had brought Madeleines and cookies from Financier. The cookies were all gone, and I was seriously considering eating a Madeleine. But here's the thing: I don't even really LIKE Madeleines. I have a bigger sweet tooth than they can handle, so they're not my favorite thing. So why would I even want one? I was able to recognize the urge as just a craving to chew something, so I chewed gum and was fine :) I think my biggest pitfall is the goodies at work, so eliminating them helped immensely (I'm going to stick to this rule from now on, btw).
I also decided not to weigh myself throughout the week. I needed to eliminate the obsessive elements that get me caught in my own head, and that's one of them. I reeeeeally wanted to see how I was doing, but I told myself to just continue to be mindful and my work would pay off. I did weigh myself at the end of the night last night, because there would be nothing I could do at that point to change anything, so I wouldn't be able to worry and freak out about what the scale said. I just wanted to have an idea of what to expect. Needless to say, I was delighted with a low number, and hoped it would be lower by this morning, which it was.
So, in a week during which I didn't track a single point, I managed to lose 2.5lbs. I think I'm on to something, here. I'm going to go back to tracking this week, because I know it does help me overall, but I'm going to really continue to be mindful like I was this week. This milestone is so huge and exciting, but I have to keep in mind that it is not the be-all, end-all. I do have more to lose (I'm talking to you, belly and thighs!), but not MUCH more. I'm definitely in the home stretch, and I think some reflection on the changes I've made would do me good, rather than just looking at the work I have left to do. Also, I'm going to get a sassy haircut to celebrate and donate my hair to locks for love :) Oh boy, I can't wait!!!!! I'm so happy and excited!!!!!!