I'm now into Week 3 of my reborn bid to lose some weight. The title of this column tells it all. After successfully shedding 15 pounds of flab I hit a stubborn plateau.
My results from Week 2: down from 162.5 to 160.9.
After exchanging high fives with Lisa Thursday, she threw a new wrinkle into the plateau vanquishing mix. Another weigh in Monday. I chickened out. Even though I was tossed the challenge, I just didn't rise to it.
Part of the reason for the plateau is my pattern of letting my hair down on the weekends and then "cramming" for three days before I face the scale the following Thursday. I vowed this past weekend to change my ways, but I didn't. I'm ashamed, but there you have it.
I was active on the weekend, working hard in my yard, doing several hundred trips up and down the stairs in my house doing laundry and other chores. But, I read a book in the mornings instead of going out for a brisk walk/run like I promised I would. I ate and drank more than I should have.
In other words, nothing changed. So, I'll wait for my usual weekly trip to the scale Thursday and dig deep to mend my ways this coming weekend. Wish me luck!
Anyone who has been on this journey and has hit the proverbial wall knows how frustrating it can be. In my case it seemed no matter how hard I worked I just wasn't making any progress.
There was some serious delusion going on there, however. I slacked off on my journaling, thinking I could "do it in my head." I also had other behaviours negatively associated with the journaling. "Wow, look how hard I worked today. I can afford to indulge in some bad habits."
Journaling is always key, however. Unless you take a minute each day to honestly assess what you've consumed and what you've burned up, it is easy to kid yourself. I know. I'm an expert.
I also use my journal to plan my week. I don't always live up to my expectations, but it's always a nice surprise when I do. I give myself silly stickers for the good stuff, and draw sad faces for the not so good stuff. After a session with Keith Hanchuk at NAC I get a big bright sticker. Man that guy can work the, well you know what, off of you.
Do you have some tips you can share to help me in this journey? Send them along to newsoptimist.news@sasktel.net. As you can tell, I need all the help I can get.
