The Dreaded First-Week Optimist Vs. The Scale

Have you seen that commercial where the guy gets on the scale, runs around the room three times, and gets on the scale again? Honestly expecting to lose weight? We all laugh at home when we see it, mostly because we've all been there. I call it the first week optimism.

Drew warned us not to weigh ourselves until our official weigh in. No. Actually he told us NOT to do it. We devised a plan to hide the scale, knowing full well I'd want to jump on it every morning. Our intentions were for Aaron to hide it, but things got busy--partly because I've been working so much this week and party because preparing healthy foods and exercising takes time.

I got home from work today and Aaron confessed he'd gotten on the scale. Who would've thought he'd be the one to crack. He told me Drew said that the scale wouldn't be accurate because of water weight fluxuation. I didn't think it was fair that he got to see his progress thus far, leaving me to wonder if I too had lost anything. (He did lose weight but it doesn't matter how much because apparently it isn't that accurate, right?) So I basically made Aaron let me get on the scale. Stupid move Jenny. Stupid move. I don't know what I was expecting after four and a half days of healthy food choices and two days of exercise. I think because I feel so much better about myself this week--because I'm on the road to change--that I naturally would go down on the scale. And yes, I was down but I had this optimistic, unrealistic, crazy idea that I'd be down a lot! After just four days--

I started freaking out in my mind, which soon turned into freaking out to Aaron about all the scariness of it all. 'What if I do everything right and it doesn't work?' 'What if I am stuck like this?'

I hate the scale for this reason. It pretty much robbed me of the natural high I've been riding all week; I have felt, for the most part, amazing--amazing because I'm doing something about being overweight. And one stupid number on the scale psyched me out. I eventually got over it and did tonight's workout.

Lesson learned. Do not get on the scale in between major weigh-ins. It is not worth the emotional punch in the stomach.

First-Week Optimist--0 The Scale--1

Oh and sorry Drew. That won't happen again!

The Morning After....Day one that is

Not gonna lie. Day one was hard for me--Harder for me than for Aaron. I had a headache a few hours into the day. Apparently this is normal for anyone cutting out processed foods, sugars, caffeine, etc. I didn't have tons of energy because I felt hungry. So with what felt like a black hole in my stomach and a hammer inside my head, I needed to really evaluate why I was doing this. Yes--Day one I had to have a serious talk with myself and consider all the reasons why I was doing this. Here is the list I came up with:

• I want to wear my wedding ring. It's true, it's true. My fingers are too fat for it. I desperately want to put it on again.
• I want to have another baby sooner than later--yes even with all the complications we faced last time, Aaron and I both want another one. But I want to be healthy before I go through another pregnancy.
• Isabelle- Isabelle motivates me because I want to play soccer with her in a few years. I want to take her on long walks. I want to have energy to work all day and then come home and still have energy to give her the attention she needs and deserves.
• I want to wear my clothes again. I love my clothes, but nothing, not one thing I own fits me. I mostly wear Aaron's T-shirts because I have nothing to wear.
• And finally, I want to feel good about myself both inside and out. Believe it or not, I really like who I am--skinny or fat--I am a confident person and have always been. But, being overweight does start to take its toll on my overall happiness. It does affect my life overall.

After reassessing exactly why I agreed to do this, I felt a lot more at peace. Still hungry? Yes. Headache present? You betcha! But I also have a renewed sense of excitement as I look forward to all of my motivations coming to fruition. My advice to those following along at home--spend some serious time remembering WHY you are doing whatever it is you are trying to do. It makes all the difference in the world.

The First BIG, and very PUBLIC journey

How could I not start journaling this? For those of you who don't know, Aaron and I followed Drew Manning, a personal trainer, on his unique journey as he intentionally gained 75 lbs in an attempt to empathize with his overweight clients. Cool idea right? We continued to follow him as lost those 75 lbs over the course of 6 months. (for more details and shocking before, during, and after pictures, visit www.fit2fat2fit.com)

When Drew posted that he was accepting applications for his next journey--choosing a family to help lose weight the same way he had--we both toyed with the idea of applying. We would lose weight! But It would be very public.... We would be motivated to finally get back into shape! But It would be difficult. In the end, we decided to apply.

Now our journey begins--We were chosen as the lucky family. So I ask the question once again: How could I not journal this? With so many people supporting us, I wanted a way to inform people about how we are doing--not just on the scale, but emotionally. I feel like enough people battle weight loss, but the battle is so layered. We face what feels like endless challenges: emotional eating, fatigue, saboteurs, lack of time, patience to endure long term changes, etc. Hopefully my journey can be a realistic insight to those of you following along.