Is it?
I cruised through my first three weeks of WW, losing 8.6 lbs total. In three weeks! I thought I was a weight loss rock star. Then last week a stepped on the scale to a meager 0.2 pound loss. I wasn’t expecting it. I hadn’t changed much from the weeks before. In fact, I had exercised more. The sudden stop in progress gave me diet whiplash, and I cried like a baby in my WW meeting. They gave me lots of support and encouragement, but I kept looking for my source of failure.
I am a bit of a perfectionist. You should know that, like, right now.
That evening I went for a walk to earn some activity points and get the week started off – literally – on the right foot. My walks generally involve pushing my 2-year-old around the park in her stroller. She’s not always easy to coax into the stroller (“Me walk!”) so we’ve had discussions about how mommy needs to exercise to stay healthy and take care of her.
The next morning, she was doing laps around the kitchen, pushing her dolly in the stroller. As she cruised by, she looked at me and said “Exercise! Like mommy!”
Do you see where I’m headed with this?
For me, losing weight isn’t all about the weight. In some respects, I am a slave to the scale just like everybody else. But the larger scope of this work is to eat healthier, to exercise more, to take care of myself, and to provide my daughter a healthy model of a woman who is strong, sexy, and comfortable in her own skin. I never had that, and I want it for her as much as I want her to have a good education.
She showed me that I am becoming a small part of the woman – of the mother – that I want to be. And this week, that was enough.
9:59 pm
What a lovely post. *smile*
I went through the same thing when I started WW. Crazy loss in the first three weeks and then whammo… crawling numbers.
Stick to your plan, keep exercising. You’ll hear it often but muscle is heavier than fat and it’s inches that count. You’ll get there, give it time and your dedication.
10:25 pm
Beautiful! I can so relate because I am a perfectionist too and I also have an almost 2-year-old daughter. I am amazed at watching her mimic me at times. It is frightening! And, you’ve made me think tonight about the messages I’m sending my kids about food and self-esteem. Thanks!
11:26 pm
:good: thtas great. shes going to grow up thinking exercise is somethinng you just do. Thats graet.
7:20 am
I, too, can tend to be a perfectionist and can get really discouraged when I don’t have the weight loss I think I *deserve* that week. Bottom line is that this is for the long-haul. Keep being faithful to your weight loss strategies and you will reach your goal. Keep your eye on the prize.
1:46 pm
Wonderfully, thought-provoking post. :clapping:
6:25 pm
What a wonderful example you are setting for your daughter. While I applaud your dilligence and dedication I would also caution you to be gentle with yourself and forgiving. Both are needed for balance. Great job on the weight loss, it will come.
9:24 pm
Way to go!! It’s amazing how much little ones watch us and do what we do instead of just what we say. Keep up the good work. :yahoo:
2:04 pm
Like you I love seeing my children model my exercise behavior. It brings it all home to me how important my actions are for their future health. Wonderful post.
(P.S. I hope someone told you that the reason you didn’t lose as much was 1. because you probably gained muscle from the working out–muscle weighs more than fat and is much prettier to look at! and 2. your body has to adjust to the weight it’s lost. Sometimes it will slow down the loss or stop all together to let the rest of your body readjust to the changes.
You are doing a great job. Remember that! :clapping: