I’m late with week forty-four! I’d like to say it was because I was living my fabulously busy and glamorous life, but, alas. It wasn’t. Mostly it was because I traveled this last week, which took a lot out of me. And also because as a result of traveling, I gained SIX POUNDS. SIX. In four days. So discouraging. So this week, I wanted to talk about getting discouraged, then getting over being discouraged during weight loss.

Pounds lost: 57

% to super goal: 45%

When I am working so hard, every single day, and have things go completely opposite of what I’m aiming for, I get so down. Do you guys ever feel that way? For the millionth time, it feels like, it’s because of travel. Even though I know that, and I know what happens every single time, I still get so discouraged watching the scale creep up every day I’m gone.

The Whining

Today is Monday, and I’m still two pounds up from where I was on the day I flew out, last Tuesday. It’s like a few days of travel sets me back over three weeks. Even when I get my steps, drink lots of water, get lots of sleep, watch my portions, and what I’m eating, limiting my fat, carbs, and whatnot…I still end up playing catch up every single time I have to go out of town.

I’ve been trying to research and figure out, specifically, why this happens. The most information I can find is that traveling can cause water retention, and that when traveling you eat at restaurants more often. Even though restaurants have healthy options, they will many times have more sodium or fat than meals you cook at home. No matter how many articles I read about how weight loss during travel isn’t something to worry about, I still do. I still do! Intellectually, I know it, but emotionally it’s hard.

I know I kind of cause this problem myself, because I am so focused right now and every half a pound gained or lost right now matters. It matters because I’m tracking it so closely, because I’ve got goals which I’m way behind on. When I think about how long it took to lose those six pounds, to gain it back in the space of a few days is so depressing! In times like these, I have to get over myself and get out of my own head.

Okay, Enough of That

So what’s next? I keep on keeping on. I keep on doing the damn thing. So of course I want to make a list! A list of a few things I do when I get inside my head to the point where it’s hard to stay motivated and see my way forward. Maybe something here will help you if you’re going through the same thing that I am.

Remind myself of my wins

As you know, I’m a big fan of counting the wins, all the small little victories that show I’m making progress on my way. Some of the ways I do that are to track my wins in my journal, whether they are health-related, work-related, or personal. Reading about my previous successes helps me to remember that this is a long game, and there will be both wins and losses along the way.

Look over my future vision

As part of a work project last year, I created a future vision. I would hesitate to call it a five year plan, since it’s not really a plan yet, but it is a vision of what I want to be in my future. It helps remind me of why I’m working so hard.

Review my history

The reason I weigh myself every day is so that I can track it. With just one or two exceptions, I have a daily record stretching back to the day I started this newest program. I also have a little weight loss tracker in my journal (pictured below) to help me see my progress. I used to keep it digitally, but I like the satisfaction of adding progress with an actual pen! There’s also something about seeing the reality of how far I’ve come, visually, that really helps me put things in perspective. For instance, I’m bummed that right now I’m 194 pounds and some change. But this time last month I was 198. And a couple months before that, 202.

Buy something new!

This one is my favorite! Even though I might be a little heavier this week than last week, the fact remains that I’m still two sizes smaller than I was last year. Which means I need to restock my wardrobe! And since there’s nothing I like better than buying new clothes, AND buying new clothes also reminds me of my progress, it’s a win-win!

The Positive Thinking

So that’s about it for today. I think everyone has bad days, and feels down sometimes. I think the key is how we decide to go on, and even if we decide to go on. The decision to change something about yourself, whether it’s health-related or something else, you choose to keep doing it, every single day. And the next, and the next. You choose it every day, until you are where you want to be. Then you choose something else!

So that’s what I’m doing. I’m choosing. Again and again and again, until I arrive where I want to be. And I will get there!

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