Advantages to Living Better… A reminder to me
OK, I need a shot in the arm. I need to find a new way of looking at what I’m trying to accomplish.
Since I started this new lifestyle, I’ve been measuring my success NOT in terms of how many pounds I’ve lost or how many inches I’ve lost , but instead in terms of how close to my goal am I?
I’ve lost 50 pounds. Do you know what thought runs through my head? “It’s not near enough, Don.”
I work out on the elliptical almost daily. Do you know what thought I have about that? “Why did you skip last Tuesday, Don?”
I spent the past couple of weeks engaged in activities with my family that I likely wouldn’t have done a few months back. All I can focus on is how incredibly fat I look still, when I see the pictures.
So I’m blogging today about the good that has come from losing 50 pounds in 11 weeks…. the differences that I’ve noticed. Some of these things may seem minor or trivial to others, but they’re important to me. Here goes…
- I’m wearing shirts 1X smaller than 6 weeks ago.
- I’m wearing shorts that are 2X smaller and they still fall off (my butt has disappeared from the elliptical workouts).
- My left leg, which before I started was starting to swell from retained water, has returned to a much smaller state and is now the same size as my right leg.
- My right knee is strong and healthy, despite the fact that I tore my Medial Collateral Ligament two months before I started this. I can now cross my right leg over my left knee, which was impossible before.
- Despite days where I stray in my eating, I still eat better consistently. My meals are smaller, my food is healthier, and I snack less. I also drink water every day (some days better than others) which is a HUGE change from before. I’ve learned to say “no” most of the time.
- I exercise more or less everyday. Even if it’s just a short one. I’ve learned it’s a win on some days to simply DO something… anything…. that brings up your heart rate.
- I can hit the elliptical for sessions that are 10x more difficult and longer than I could two months ago.
- I am going in the right direction. I am closer to my goal everyday.
- I have the energy to do things with my kids, that were simply unattainable two months ago. I’ve begun taking the kids on bike rides, walks, playing catch, swimming… it’s a huge change from standing on the outside and looking in at them.
- I’ve learned that not everyday has to be perfect. I’ve learned to forgive, forget and restart. A bad day is NOT a failed day.
- There are some great people here on this website that inspire me all the time… not always because they are dropping weight quickly, but because they are genuinely good people. There are times I wish they could have half the success I have had losing pounds, because they are twice the human being.
- I am motivated by people who say they are inspired by me. That’s because I don’t feel worthy of it, so I therefore feel the need to qualify their praise by doing better…. backwards, I know.
- My sleep is better. It’s earned, I think. I only sleep six hours at most, but it’s a sound sleep!
There. I feel a little better. It is NOT all about pounds, or inches, or exercise, or food. It’s the right thing to do. Everything seems just a little bit better after a day of successful healthy living. I’m going to start taking pleasure in that - a good day.
Even if my scale tells me otherwise. 
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Wow…what a GREAT blog!!!!
Great new focus…
You ARE an inspiration…so just receive it…cause you are one of the most “genuinely good people” on here!
I always look forward to seeing you on line and hearing what you have to say! You are a blessing to me! Seriously…a big BLESSING!!!
Yesterday when I was having my moment…and I saw that you had commented…I just started crying…BEFORE I even read it…just cause I KNEW what you had said would be just what I needed to hear! AND it was!
Thank you!
Wow I imagine losing 50 lbs makes you look at a lot of things different. CONGRATULATIONS!
Just dont dwell on those things you messed up on, nor the days you didnt exercise. Those days are gone, too late to let it bother you. You made a mistake, you realized it, you made the change and kept going. You did the right thing!
Definitely go get that book, “You on a diet” it addresses alot of those feelings. And best of luck for keeping on!
That was Great Don!I know that you work so hard and you have done soooo good. You are a inspiration to me. You are right instead of focusing on the pounds and inches we need to praise for the changes.
Like me playing 3 games of vollyball on the 4th
being able to walk accross the parking lot and not loose my breath.
Thanks for the reminder that it’s more then just the weight and inches!!You are truley Awsome!!!!
Great blog Don. Made me remember what’s more important…. improving my quality of life, or improvingmy waist line…. definately improving my quality of life’s more important.
I always find your blogs helpful, and timely. I have spent the morning focusing on the positive and permanent changes I have made to my lifestyle. My weight loss has been at a virtual stand still for over a month now , and I had been beating myself up for it, but I decided today to stop doing that. I have lost over 50 pounds , I am maintaining that loss thus far, I have made changes to the way I live my life for the better, and I will not give up. I know if I continue focusing on living a healthy lifestyle the pounds will come off, and best of all, I feel better, look better, and live better. We sometimes forget to appreciate the good things in life because we focus on our percieved “shortcomings”. I’m going to enjoy thinking of all the things I do better, and easier with this 50 off, instead of worrying so much about the next 50. We’re doing great! We are winners, and we deserve to be proud of the choices we have made to live healthier and happier lives. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us today. Yours are one of the blogs I always read.
Why do we beat ourselves up? We wouldnt say those things to someone else…I do it too…never good enough…
What a wonderful way to look at the progress. I need to start a list of all the “little” changes that add up to BIG, WONDERFUL, changes! Good for you Don. And you ARE amazing, hold your head high!
lol- i’m reading blogs before i go to bed, so i’m tired and i know things come out king of goofy when i’m tired, but… you ARE an inspiration to a lot of people on here, me included, even if i don’t always comment on the blogs. you are doing a fantastic job and it really is inspiring to read about all the changes, thoughts and sometimes frusterations you are going through. you seem to put things in perspective… thanks for being here…