This month I’m participating in #reverb10. Every day a new prompt is issued and I will write my response. The goal is to reflect on 2010 and manifest what’s next in 2011. Want to learn more? Visit www.reverb10.com.
I'm a couple of days behind due to a completely unproductive weekend, so I'm playing catch-up!
Prompt: Wisdom. What was the wisest decision you made this year, and how did it play out?
In 2010 I decided to re-commit to my weight loss journey by focusing on fitness instead of the scale. Something happened in May. I'm not sure what it was, but it's like the lightbulb in my head went off. I had lost large chunks of weight successfully before, only to gain it all (plus more) back. I remember in May, I was thinking long and hard about where I wanted this journey to go. Why this needed to be the last time I would see all of these numbers on the scale. In early June, I realized something: In all my previous weight loss attempts, I was missing 2 critical elements of any successful weight loss journey: 1. Long Term Vision 2. Focus on Fitness
Yes, the food part is hard. Especially if you're an emotional eater such as myself. I've proven to myself that I could lose 150 pounds by just following a strict diet. (Reminder- I need to write more about that!) But even after losing 150 pounds, I would still get winded going up a flight of stairs. I would never attempt to do any 5Ks or to go to the gym regularly. In the past I was so obsessed with the number on the scale that I didn't think long term about what my body needed to be able to thrive and grow stronger.
By choosing to focus on health instead of weight, I've been able to frame any success or progress by something OTHER than the scale, which is really freeing. I can physically feel the difference that the improved fitness has on me. The difference between when I started working out with Trainer Rob and now is amazing. And delusional me actually thought I was pretty fit for my size when I started working out since I had already lost a chuck of weight prior to that. How wrong I was!
I am immensely thankful for wising up and realizing how important it was to start a fitness journey. No more waiting until I got down to a certain weight before exercising. No time like the present. I'm also immensely thankful that when I asked for help to head down this new path, that Lexington Athletic Club and Trainer Rob were there to answer my call.
Making a decision to do something to prolong your life? Pretty damn wise, if you ask me 😉
