What You Didn't Know & Challenge Update

A few days ago a friend (who is on an amazing weight-loss journey of her own - Hi Sara!) shared this HuffPost Healthy Living article by Anne Ricci - "6 Things No One Tells Women About Their Weight Loss Journey" I thought it made some excellent points.  Many of the points she made can be related directly to my own experience.  I have taken each point and briefly described how it has related it to my weight loss journey. When you get a chance, please take the time to read the entire article and examine how it applies to your journey.

1. "The path to a slimmer you is not a straight line" - Even when the scale is going down, it rarely is a steady decrease week after week. There are big losses, little losses, no losses and even gains - gasp! Yes, it is super frustrating when the scale stays the same or goes up and down from week to week, but if I can look back over a longer period of time and see the loss I am in success mode.  That downward trend is what I try to focus on. 

2. "You may face several defeating setbacks" - When I started this journey (at least the current leg of it) and this blog, my goal was to lose 75 pounds. I knew it wouldn't happen overnight, but I fully expected it was something I could realistically do in a year. I was off to a great start - almost halfway to my goal and I started to wobble - I thought that was my setback. Then I got straighten out and back on track. Rolling along. Little did I know I would hit a devastating setback about 6 months into the journey.  Our loss was devastating and the aftermath has been a huge setback on my weight loss. Over the course of 4+ months I gained back about 25 of the 35 pounds I had lost. Super depressing on top of the loss. I am hopefully finally bouncing back from one of the biggest setbacks I can imagine. I wish I could say that I learned valuable lessons that I will definitely apply to future setbacks. I am not quite sure it works that way. At minimum I know it is possible to move forward despite the challenges we face. 

3. "You will need to have compassion for yourself, instead of criticism and guilt" - I am learning this.  Thanks in no small part from the support of many of you reading this. As I have tried to find my way through this setback I have had encouragement after encouragement to go easy on myself. I would never have been hard on anyone else in the same situation. Why are we always our own worst critic?  Would I keep a "friend" that treated me like I sometimes treat myself. 

4. "Other people will try to sabotage you" - To be honest, I don't think this has happened to me at least not in a purposeful way. My circle has been very supportive. 

5. "You will have to take a serious look at your relationship with food" - I have a feeling this is going to be one of the toughest part of the journey. I do know (and admit) I am an emotional eater. How I can change all that is something that may take me some time to work out. 

6. "Getting enough sleep will help a lot" - This is an area I don't think about from a weight loss point of view. I know I used to be a good sleeper, but that definitely seems to be gone now. I have zero problem getting to sleep. I just can't seem to stay asleep. I know part of it is related to my MS, pain, medication, etc. Some of it may be that we need a new bed - hopefully, this summer. 

Have you discovered any of these to be true in your own journey?  How are you experiencing and overcoming them?

30 Day Ironman Challenge update (click here for challenge details)

I am a week in and I definitely feel challenged on several levels

Physical - After not doing much exercise recently my body has definitely taken a step backward on general fitness. Biking was significantly tougher than I expected. What happened to when we were kids and could ride forever.  I am happy to say that my tender hiney has started to toughen up.

Mental - I have to make myself start (and continue) when I would rather be doing anything else.

Emotional - I hate how far back I have fallen physically and I have to constantly remind myself to be kind to myself.

Time Management - There are always so many things to be done.  This week I have invested over 4 hours. That doesn't sound like much, but when you add it to a full-time job, household chores, social activities (and dare I say sleep) it makes for a busy schedule.

Truth is I am not quite as far along as I hoped I would be at this point. I am going to have to carve out more time and ramp up my efforts. Please don't take that to mean that I am not proud of what I have done so far. I know I have worked hard and made strides in each of the areas mentioned above.

Week One Status Report

Swimming (0 of 2.4 miles = 0% completed) The pool at our gym is still closed for repair. I hope it is open soon. This will be an extremely challenging area for me to make up. I am still hoping the pool will open today and we can have a date night tonight that will include a dip in the pool.

Biking  (21 of 112 miles =  18.75% completed)  I am currently most proud of this. I thought this would be time consuming, but not as physically challenging. Turns out it is both and I am making it happen.

Walking  (6.3 of 26.2 miles = 24% completed) Okay, I think I made a miscalculation in my original plan. I was thinking I need to average 4 walks a week, but it is actually closer to 3 walks a week. (I walked 2.6 miles this morning that is not included because my silly Garmin is not cooperating so I don't have the exact time yet.) 

Not bad at all on the biking and walking status. The swimming is really out of my control at the moment. I hope they get it repaired and give me enough time to realistically get it done. 

My husband is off to a great start. He has run 8.5 miles and biked 39.7. He would have more running miles, but is fighting with his IT band.

And the flowering tree obsession continues. These pictures are from my lunch time walk yesterday. 

I couldn't resist this "tale of two lawns." I think the closer yard had sod laid last summer. I wonder if they are happy with their neighbors??

Thanks for indulging my obsession :)  One final picture...I promised I would always try to tell both sides of the story. I took these pictures with my cell phone. When I looked at them later there were several like this of my fingers. The sun was bright and it is nearly impossible to see the screen because of the glare. I just try to line up the phone and hope for the best. Truth be told, there were several of my crazy squinty face too, but I can only share so much truth on a Friday.  Have a great weekend!