Friday, August 7

The little train that couldn't

Once upon a time there was a girl on a diet. She was doing really well too, sitting at a pretty 180.2 for the second day in a row. Yet at just over the half way mark, she can feel the cycle beginning that makes her want to sputter and spiral out of control.

Now, this girl- she isn’t motivated to do all the things she knows she should.

Like tracking her food. Weighing it. Portion controlling it.

Or eating veggies. And fruits. And saying no to those delicious little Pilsbury appetizer bites that are nothing but buffalo chicken and buttery pastry. Last night she ate the WHOLE BOX.

Nothing would make this girl happier than to blame other people, her hectic schedule, or even the fact that she is working on a new book (ironically, its title is “Dancing from Fat to Freedom” and a new blog has been started). There are a million reasons why she is spread too thin to diet.

But she knows better.

She knows that personal responsibility is the number one lesson she has learned up to this point. SHE is in control of her diet.

She has every resource to succeed, but something insider her always feels destined to fail. And she has to fight that urge kicking and screaming (which would technically count as calories burned) and overcome it or the diet will go SPLAT in her face.

So today, as this girl gets her caboose back on track, I want to ask you- does anyone else ever feel this way? Am I the only one with a nature that seems to beg for failure? Does anyone out there have encouraging words for a woman who is tired of veggies and Smart Ones meals? Who doesn’t feel like doing aerobics? I’m not asking for pity here, but maybe one of you has an insight that might do the trick.

A trick to get this girl back on track.

10 comments:

..Jenny said...

I can so relate as I feel in the exact same place right now. I've been on this weigh loss journey myself and have lost 73 pounds thus far. You would think that loss in itself would motivate me to keep on going but that's not the case.
I feel tired too....tired of those stupid little smart ones for lunch every day, tired of tracking everything I eat and tired of reminding myself that for the entire rest of my life I will have to work out if I want to be healthy.
Keep your eye on the prize though! Besides just losing the big ol' booty of yours you are literally adding YEARS to your life by making this healthy change!
My husband and I are wanting to start a family sometime in the near future and I don't want my kids to grow up in the unhealthy lifestyle that I did. Obviously you have to lose this weight for yourself and nobody else, but for me it helps to look at the big picture. Really, is sticking around to see my kids have kids more important than a twinkie? Of course it is! By choosing to change our eating patterns I am literally changing my family tree, and that helps give me motivation.
Keep on going and know that you can do ANYTHING you put your mind to and you are totally worth it! Look back on how far you've come and don't give up now! You CAN do this!

Tracey said...

I can totally relate. For me, I think it has to do with getting to the point in really believing that "Yes, I am worth it!"

You are worth it - keep going. You are doing great! Look how far you have already come!

Anonymous said...

Take your eyes off the goal...and get your mind set on "just for today." You can do something "just for today" that would appaul you if you had to maintain it for a lifetime. Don't look at yesterday. It's just today...that's all you get. So, for today...you can move your body a minimum of 30 minutes and your next meal or snack can be something that reflects how much you care for yourself. Just for today, Charlie...you can do this!

And you are not a slave to your emotions...you may not "feel" like exercising...so you do it anyway...because that feeling is going to pass and you'll still be left with the choice you made based on a temporary feeling.

YOU are not in control of your diet...He is. Ask Him every time you want to eat something. What does He want you to eat? Something healthy? Or something that will pull you further away from Him? We have the choice at every meal, snack, movement, and thought...what will we choose? Him or ourselves.

Charlie you are inspiring me!!!!! Keep it up.

Love,
Another Illinois girl (who ate an elephant ear last night...just keeping it real).

Anonymous said...

I can TOTALLY relate to this - in fact, it's something I've been struggling with quite a bit over the past few weeks. I agree with what everyone else has commented.
And, just for the record, I ate grapes instead of Custard Cup Turtle Pie or Grasshopper Pie yesterday at the office. Was I given dirty looks for sticking with my grapes? Yes! Was it hard to stick with my decision to eat what I brought? Yes! But, I decided that my too tight "fat" clothes were enough of a reason to stick with the grapes! After all, eating too much of the stuff like that is what got me back this way in the first place. And you know how hard it is for me to pass up some ice cream of any form! :)
All I can say is take it one day at a time and keep asking yourself is it worth it to pass up something really yummy to make the goals you've set for yourself.
Cross

Anonymous said...

Charlie,
I recently found your blog and I am inspired by you! I am currently at the weight you were when you started your journey. I am in awe of the motivation you have obviously had to get you to this point. Keep on keepin' on! The only tip I can offer is trying a new type of exercise to beat the doldrums! Swimming? Disc Golf?
or change of scenery? Lake or park walking trails? Good Luck!

Angie in TN

Anonymous said...

Please don't stop! I love this blog and you are so funny and encouraging. I would buy your book. Thanks for being so real, what I do is go in my closet and see that I have nothing to wear and all the events all I have coming up that involve my children and how I want to look good.
You can do it...pray lots too. Psals 34:18. Drink lots of water and people will look at your beautiful face instead of your waist.

The Incredible Shrinking Woman said...

I'm not going to give up or quit! I just seem to be in a dieting funk. It's making me crazy, because nothing I eat seems to fill me up. Plus I'm super tired too, which I think has effected my usual chipper-ness and made me whiney today.

The good news is that when I start hitting the diet really hard core again, it will be like I am starting all over again, which should make me drop some weight really fast the first week!!! lol

Your comments are so eye opening. Maybe this is all part of my dieting period! It feels WUNDERBAR to know that this isn't just me fighting this. Praise the Lord for comments! They are incredible!

You all can tell me I encourage and inspire you, but it is the other way around. YOU GUYS inspire and encourage me. I am humbled by your honesty and count you all as blessings today. THANK YOU!!!!

Love-
Your fearless leader who is slowly rising out of her funk :)

Anonymous said...

I'm a new reader, not new to weight loss, and re-loss. I went back to weight watchers again and found out I'm a celebrity. The leader said she thinks I hold the record for starts and stops. I always wondered what being famous felt like. This morning I weighed 188.8. I can hardly wait to weigh what you weigh. I am going to feel so great when I get down to your weight, that will be almost 10 pounds lost! Love reading your blog, someday I'll share the story about buying mens pants (by accident). Until then I'm going to work really hard to get to your current weight.

Feel better?

FarmerSue

Anonymous said...

Hi Charlie!
I always have a smile on my face when I read what you write - your being real is so refreshing. I have lots of info about health and nutrition, from a different perspective, if you are interested? Let me know in your comments, and I will privately send you my email or phone number so we can talk! I am hoping that you will allow me to be an encouragement to you on your journey. Health and healing are my passion, and what the Lord has gifted me with. AND don't worry, it's not weird stuff, different, but not weird!! And other than a change of your perspective it is relatively simple to accomplish....simple...not fast!
Suzy

The Incredible Shrinking Woman said...

Suzy, feel free to contact me at the email address at the top of my blog. That's the easiest way to contact me. Although one thing I am very positioned about is eating foods that I can live with. A diet that is real and can last me for the next 60 years. Or more. Women in my family aren't keen on dying till they are in their 100's. So if it's tofu and bran, don't be offended if I don't take it! But that doesn't mean I won't appreciate the help! If you have a gift from God, I will gladly listen to your wisdom!
And Farmer Sue- lol- that is quite possibly the funniest thing I have heard! Yes, it does make me feel better. Although I wonder if we are close to having the same number of starting and stopping. I have a bundle! ;)
Charlie

 
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