Sometimes it feels like time is just going too fast! It’s already week 27!

Pounds lost: 46

% to super goal: 36.5

Doing the damn thing!

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Today’s article is all about self-reflection, and the changes I’m seeing not just in my body but in my mind, during my weight loss journey. Tomorrow it will be 6 months since I rebooted the Incredible Shrinking Woman! I feel like I’ve made incredible progress too, though I still struggle with being realistic about the amount of weight I can lose between milestones. The changes I’ve experienced are not just physical, either.  

Learnings

I’ve learned so much: about my body, and how it processes food, and about my mind and what makes me eat. I’ve learned about my triggers, and how things like stress, and not drinking enough water, and not getting enough sleep can influence my weight. Learning how to meal prep my lunches has been an important step, and how that can help me control what I’m eating. 

My body’s messaging system has become more clear also. I’ve learned to stop eating when I’m full, and about things like “mouth hunger” versus “stomach hunger”. Learning about how my body produces hormones and other substances, and when, and how those things affect my health and my weight has been eye-opening.

Changes

Some of these changes I was forced into because of my issues with my gallbladder. For instance, I can promise you that I would not have voluntarily chosen to reduce my fat intake over the last few weeks as much as I have. I would not be so conscious of my health and what my body is telling me every day either. I don’t think I would have felt such a feeling of frailty and mortality either.

I’m noticing a change in how I feel about myself also. While I don’t think it’s entirely attributable to my physical changes, I am carrying myself differently, with more confidence. I know my body better: what it can do, and how I can treat it with more respect. I feel lighter in my spirit, and not just physically. 

Moving Forward

Even though things are slowing down for me, and the goals I set when I first started out are showing themselves to be pretty unrealistic, I am still making progress. I am losing weight every week, and with every pound that comes off, with every good food decision I make, with every time I open the fridge, I’m doing something good for myself and getting healthier.

When I look at myself now, I believe that I’m worth taking care of. And, that no one will take care of me as well as I can. Only I can change my mindset, or change my choices about what I do (or don’t do) or eat (or don’t eat). We all need support, and cheerleaders, and people that will help remind us of our goals. But in the end, it comes down to the choices we’re willing to make on our own behalf that will effect true change in our hearts, minds, and bodies. 

You

If you’re on the fence, or still waiting for some magical pill to come along, stop. True change, the kind of change that transforms you, doesn’t come from a pill, or a fad diet, or the latest type of exercise. It comes from inside you. And you’re worth it! You are, even if you don’t believe that right now.

If you’re on your own journey, what changes have you seen during your weight loss? If you sometimes feel discouraged, or like you’ll never be able to reach your goals, you’re not alone.

Okay, enough soapboxing. I’ll leave you with these: my Sad Gallbladder shirt that I fully intend to wear to my surgery on the 6th, and my Starbucks Coffee Drink Halloween costume hat which I made myself and will be wearing on Thursday! Have a great week, everyone!

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