Well. In regards to my grand plan, all I can say about this last week is that I’m glad it was my last travel trip of the year! I gained another three pounds, I swear it’s as if as soon as I step on the plane. If last time is any indication, I’ll lose it fast, but it’s still kind of disheartening. Still, progress not perfection, right? Today I’m focusing on the other health benefits for losing weight.

Pounds lost: 50.2

% to super goal: 39.8%

Doing the damn thing!

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Those of you paying attention will notice that I’m actually up a pound and some change from last week, so this week is truly a backslide. But that’s okay! In good news, this week was awesome for several reasons. I had a great time with the team, celebrated a lot of wins (and my birthday!) and had an awakening to exactly how different I appear to those around me.

What was interesting about this week is that everyone remarked on my weight loss. I didn’t realize till this week how different I look to those that haven’t seen me for a while. On the one hand, it was extremely gratifying. On the other, it felt weird, almost like I hadn’t realized before exactly how bad it had gotten for me. Not just in the size of my face and body, but in my level of energy, my attitude, and even just how much I moved. People noticed! And I felt so much better, when I compare to the last offsite we had last year. My boss commented that I’m way more energetic than I have been in the past. Others commented that I’m smiling more, my attitude has improved, and I look healthier!

Non-Appearance Related Health Benefits

The thing is, I feel so much healthier. Not just because I am wearing a smaller pants size, but because it’s easier to stand, to walk, to run, to breathe. I don’t snore as much. I sleep better, for longer. My body doesn’t hurt as much. Most days I just feel a general sense of well-being.

I didn’t realize, when I started this whole thing, how much better I would feel, physically. I was very much focused on how I just wanted to lose weight so I’d feel better about myself, and have more confidence. I did think peripherally about how I would be healthier, but it wasn’t my main focus or driving force. So what I’m feeling now, all the “side effects” of losing weight, is extremely gratifying, and for me, surprising.

Looking at it though, I shouldn’t be surprised. Most people probably realize that losing weight is good for their health. Study after study has shown it. I think I knew it intellectually, but had never felt it myself. I’m here to tell you that the side benefits are real! My feet don’t hurt as badly at the end of the day. My back still hurts sometimes, but not as badly as it did. Going up and down stairs is no longer a chore. I can stand longer, I can walk longer. I feel good.

VeryWellFit has a great article about the various health benefits of losing weight, since all of mine are based on personal experience.

Getting ON the Wagon

If you’re worried that it will be hard, you are right. If you are worried you’ll have to make changes to your diet and lifestyle, you’re right. If you think that losing weight will help you feel better, you are right. If you’re on the fence, you just need to decide what’s more important: keeping all the stuff that’s not serving you, or taking the step and committing to making changes that WILL serve you, and serve you well.

It’s been hard. And in my mind, there’s no easy solution. You just have to be at a point where you’re ready to do the dang thing. So here we go!

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