I was so happy almost two weeks ago when I hit the magical Oneunderland!! So why am I not as happy now?

Why can I never be happy with the slow and steady progress I am making? Have I watched too many extreme weight loss shows. Those people in about an hour loss 100 pounds so why can't I?

Yesterday I ran into a friend at the local grocery store, she has been overweight all her life and was one of my best buddies, until I started to change my lifestyles. She is a great girl but just like me she blamed everything for her weight but what the issue was, BAD eating. Anyways yesterday she was so excited to hear my secret!!

What secret you ask, well the weight loss secret I had discovered. I told her I was using portion control, exercise and increased my water intake. I could see her eyes glaze over as soon as I started talking. She then asked if i was going to this new gym in town that straps you to a vibrating machine and promises 10 minutes is just like working out hard for one hour. I told her no I had not tried that yet. She said she was thinking of that and trying a cardio class after the kids went back to school. Her cart was filled with baked goods, chips, cookies and weight loss foods.

I left the store very sad for my friend. I saw me in her. No confidence, all excuses and no idea that I was slowly killing myself. I packed my groceries into my minivan, (It takes forever now that I buy so many veggies, fruit and non processed food) I watched my friend pack her car in five minutes and huff and puff as she put her cart back. My heart went out to her, when I got home I sent her an email to invite her to a walking date next week. I hope she will come because i miss her. I miss my friend but not what we use to do together (overeating, making excuses and lying to ourselves)

So after feeling bad that my weight loss journey was way too slow I was brought back to reality. The reality is weight loss is hard. Small changes add up and do make a difference they are just slow to notice. I didn't gain all this weight in one day and I will not loss the weight overnight. I need to celebrate all the wonderful changes in my life. The fact I can see my feet, my clothes come from the normal size rack in the normal clothing store, I look better, I feel better, I can lift 30 pounds in weights, I can do one hour of Zumba and I am proud of myself.

So I know that there will continue to be days when I don't feel like lighting the world on fire, when my journey seems endless, when I wish I could snap my fingers and be thin but I am so lucky to have Sparks people and all my new friends to rely on.

I have re-found the spring in my step and have a new purpose, I don't need to be perfect I just need to be me. I need to focus on today not tomorrow or next month.

PS Remember we are all in this together