Week
One Update
Today
I celebrate and embrace the loss of 8 pounds.
On
my frame, with the amount of weight I have to lose (over 150 pounds), 8 pounds
doesn’t seem like a lot and you can’t see it when you look at me. But that’s
ok, because this weight loss journey is about me and my body. Do you know what
kind of impact just 8 pounds can have? For every pound over weight we are, that’s
4 pounds of pressure on our joints. I just eliminated 32 added pounds of
pressure on my joints! That’s fabulous!
I
also made progress on my goals. Progress is part of what fuels our passion to
keep going. When I can look back and see how far I’ve gone, that’s what’s going
to help me get through those tough times when I feel like nothing is happening
and I’ll NEVER meet my goal weight.
So
how did I kick those pounds to the curb? I joined a challenge group hosted by
my awesome BeachBody coach. It started last Monday and every day I earn points
by being accountable and supporting the other people in the group. The group
doesn’t teach extreme weight loss or how to starve myself to get fast results
that will come back later (and bring friends). No the group teaches me small
healthy daily habits to work on and supports me through the fitness program
that meets me at my level and provides a little challenge.
What
are those small changes? Things like drinking my water each day. Checking in
for my daily work out, even on rest days (and actually taking my rest days).
They help me in making healthier food choices and getting in my recommended
amount of protein and vegetables. When I have a rough day, that group has my
back. They’re the ones reminding me that I can do this and that it takes one
small step at a time. They lift and encourage me and when I need to, they give
me that quick kick in the rear to get moving.
Challenge
groups have done wonders for my personal life as well. I started posting
‘sweaty mug photos’ that’s the selfie you take after you’ve worked out when
your hair is a mess and there’s sweat dripping down your face, you’re breathing
hard and your face is red. Who celebrates photos like that?!? My awesome group
of fellow challengers do! We all take those photos. There’s no priming or
adding make up or trying to look “sexy”. This is the real thing. I swear it’s
almost more of a “who can look worse after working out” competition and its
awesome! No one judges me for how I look. They congratulate me for looking
happy or exhausted or like a royal mess. They congratulate me for taking
another step along my journey to a healthier, happier me. How amazing is
that!?! Talk about a confidence booster. I even find myself feeling more
confident about taking and posting photos of myself. Something I’ve never been
able to do. I look in the mirror now and find good things to say instead of
degrading self-talk.
I
still have a long way to go. With my weight loss and my health. I struggle with
getting the right portion sizes and eating enough of the right things. I
struggle with emotional eating and binge eating. I struggle with getting that
daily exercise in and feeling like I matter. But every day I get one step
closer to being able to do the things I dream of. And this January Challenge
group is really helping me take the steps I need.
