And Week One Concludes....

I've concluded Week One of my new life (I will NOT call this a diet...this is my new life!), and I lost 3.9 pounds. I am telling myself I should really be proud of this number but I can't help but think, "Ugh....why didn't I lose more?!" In my brain, I know this doesn't make sense because the average HEALTHY weekly weight loss for many women is only 1-2 pounds, and that I am making healthy choices, rather starving myself.

It's so easy to get lost in the dread of knowing you have SO much weight to lose. In my case, I am hoping to go from my starting weight of 238.7 to as close to 140 as possible before my sister's wedding at the end of June 2017. That gives me approximately 11 months to lose 100 (or close to it) pounds.

I keep telling myself that it took several years (and three babies) to get this weight on, as I was never overweight before I had children. This means I've been steadily gaining over 100 pounds over the course of 11+ years. It's unrealistic to assume that I will lose this weight overnight or even in a few months.

I'm realizing I need to change my mindset to one of appreciation and realization that this weight loss journey will take me at least a year, and even then the journey isn't over. I want to be healthy for the rest of my life, and I know to sustain that I'll have to make better choices forever. I'm finding that while making good nutrition and fitness choices requires planning and mental fortitude, but overcoming the emotional self-doubt, stress, and anxiety that comes along with having to lose a lot of weight is the MOST DIFFICULT part.

I hope all of you have had a great weigh-in this weekend, and that you realize any loss is a good thing! Meanwhile, I'll be here trying to convince myself the very same. We just have to remember to !