The BIG Picture

Sometimes looking at the BIG picture can place a damper on your efforts...even if it's just for a short time.

Yesterday I had a conversation with someone at the office that proceeded to tell me how his wife started running and has enjoyed it because of the weight she had lost. The rest of the conversation took on a tone of, "If you move more you could lose some weight too." hmmmm...i'm good at NOT lashing out, biting my tongue and being polite. So i just refocused on his wife and what a great accomplishment she's been making.

BUT...

As the meeting began i started to play a slide show in my thoughts...

This person sees me everyday. Sometimes when you see someone everyday you don't notice the gradual changes they are making in themselves or the changes that are happening to their body.

BUT i did start looking at the ultimate BIG picture for me.

My weight goal is 169lbs - which is still at least 30lbs heavier than any chart or doctor will say i should be at for my height. BUT i'm ok with that...169 is my goal. I currently sit at 258lbs even as of last Tuesday (tonight is my official weigh-in). That means i still have 89lbs to drop to reach my goal. I'm lost 62lbs to date.

sigh...i need to lose MORE than what i've already lost...almost 1.5x more than what i've already lost!

Here's the thing...

From Thanksgiving 2011 to August 2012 I lost roughly 53lbs. Then i took a LONG break...i still worked out, i just stopped caring about what i ate. Then towards the end of August 2013 i decided to refocus. This is NOT the body i want to live in the rest of my life. Since then i'm down 14.6lbs (I gained a few pounds over that LONG break).

I'm making the effort because there is so much more that i want out of life and i FEEL that my weight is holding me back. The reality is that i'm ALLOWING it to hold me back. It's easy to hide behind the excuse of the weight. I've done it my entire life.

So yesterday i felt a bit defeated looking out at that BIG picture...that dream goal...and all i wanted to do was drive towards home, stop and pick up some pizza and veg out on the couch.

Did i do that?

Hell no!

I ended up passing through Subway to pickup my favorite sandwich (steak, egg and pepper jack cheese on flat bread with jalapeños and tomatoes). Then i went home and did my second workout of the day. After a while i decided i wanted to try something else. So i popped in a DVD and did some kettlebell work.

There's something about sweat dripping down your face and chest that puts a HUGE smile on my heart.

Why?

Because i KNOW i'm taking the steps i need to continue on with my journey.



Do i always feel like working out? NO

But i do it anyways because i know i'll feel better afterwards.

Funny how things change. It used to be that when i was feeling down i would just eat and veg out and cry. But i've been learning to replace that with simply putting on my workout clothes and making sure i get a good sweat going.

It's not easy...

I was talking with a friend last night and she's training for her first half marathon. She started talking about how she needs to start committing herself to the training schedule. She finds that her boyfriend, family and just hanging out with friends tends to take up that time.

I started laughing...

I asked her, "when do we see each other?" She said, "when we walk or run or go to the gym." I laughed again...i told her that I make sure we keep up our friendship by working her into my training. I did tell her that it gets tough.

I skip out on many dinners with friends because i know i need to be in bed by a certain time. I miss my singles Bible studies because it goes until 10 or 11pm and i need to be in bed early to get up at 3:30am. I miss all sorts of events because i need to be dedicated to my training. BUT you keep up with the rest of your life by including them. I invite almost everyone i know to join me in every race that i complete. I invite friends on my training walks. I invite friends to the gym with me.

Here's the thing i told her...for so long we've placed EVERYONE else above our own needs. It's time we take care of ourselves, make ourselves proud, and in turn we end up being a better friend or people to others.

BUT if you don't train you'll pay for it out on the road.

The BIG picture...ha!

I prefer to break it down into monthly goals.

I used to have monthly weight loss goals, but those never work. So i focus on fitness goals and nutritional goals.

The scale may not always agree with my efforts but my heart sure is happy. And because of that, that voice in my head that likes to torment me gets a little quieter every day.

I need to love that person that stares back at me in the mirror. I used to avoid her. She made me so sad all the time. She was depressed, she was lonely and she was scared. But now when i look in the mirror i see someone that is getting stronger everyday. I see someone that almost always has a smile on her face. I see a warrior fighting to create a better life for herself.

So that BIG picture is on the horizon some day...but for now i'm enjoying the daily grind of knowing i am making better choices.