The end is near for the 8-week Tone It Up Bikini Series challenge, but my weight plateau has been unwavering. I’ve lost 2 ounces for the week- so basically, I stayed the same.
Here are my numbers to date:
Since July 5th I’ve lost
Pounds: 11.8
Arms: 1.75 inches
Chest: 1.75 inch
Abs: 4 inches
Waist: 0.25 inches
Hips: 1.50 inches
Leg: 1.25 inch
Calf: 0.75 inch
But I do have to say, I have a different attitude about the whole situation.
Maybe instead of learning how to lose weight, the last few weeks have been about learning acceptance. And really that is far more valuable than a few pounds.
Like many people, especially women, I can be pretty hard on my body.
I struggle when my body doesn’t reflect what my mind thinks it should look like. I push it when it’s tired. I restrict food when it needs it. I over feed it when I emotionally eat.
It’s not easy being this body!
But through this whole process, I have found a new appreciation for it. When I started out I felt a little trapped by my body.
I thought I was a victim of an ever-present sweet tooth.
I believed feeling a little nauseous all the time was just part of life.
I thought the only kind of workout I liked was spin.
I figured my main joy was eating, so being a little heavier then I wanted was part of the territory.
Turns out none of those things are true.
Sure, I like something sweet and enjoy dessert most nights, but I can have something small and be done. I’ve realized my old attitude of “if some is good, more is better” doesn’t serve me anymore.
Do I slip up? Of course. Just this weekend I felt sad and stressed about moving my stepdaughter to college. At one point, I ate a cookie so fast I didn’t even taste it.
But does that happen every night when I get home from work? Nope, it really doesn’t.
I really believe lightening up on the sugar has led to feeling so much better. Will I go cold turkey? Right now the answer is hell no.
But hopefully I will remember this simple equation:
Eat Less Crap = Feel Better
Through integrating new workouts, I’ve realized that my body is capable of doing far more than I thought it could. I really didn’t think I could do a bootcamp, or hold a plank for two minutes- but turns out, both aren’t only possible, they are actually kind of fun.
But I think the most important thing I’ve learned doesn’t just apply to eating, fitness, and losing weight. It applies to all aspects of life. And the lesson is that holding onto something only creates suffering. Acceptance is the key to joy.
I know I just shifted from weight loss to deep thoughts, but stick with me.
When I hold onto the idea that I have to accomplish my goal of seeing 130 on the scale, then I’m creating suffering.
Every time the scale isn’t 130, I can feel like a failure. Even when I hit 130, I’ll set a new goal and the pattern continues.
This could cause self-imposed suffering indefinitely. And for what? It doesn’t make the number on the scale move down. It only creates more suffering.
By accepting exactly where I am today, my life instantly becomes lighter. There is no holding onto the body I once had, or wishing for what my body could be. There is just me, right now. With nothing to fix or be sad about, the stress and self-hatred can fade. It’s really pretty cool.
So, as I start off this last week of the challenge, I am deciding to believe that everything is already great. I feel good about where I am today, and that can’t be ruined by a simple bathroom scale.
