So I came here earlier this evening thinking to myself: I need to blog. ugh.
And I felt 0 motivation and inspiration. But after visiting the website for a restaurant we're eating at tomorrow night... I have become inspired.
Tomorrow night is our anniversary dinner. I have four siblings and all of our wedding anniversaries (including my parents') fall between May 18 and July 2, so we have one big dinner in June every year. Well, July this year :). Last year we went to Carino's and loved the atmosphere so we're going there again this year. This is only the second year (of the five we've had these dinners) that I have been eating conscientiously. The other four years I was either pregnant or just not with it. Mostly pregnant :).
Ok. So I've been doing really good this week.... working out a lot.... eating well. So I think to myself, I'm just gonna go to Carino's enjoy myself and not worry about the calories, etc. But I still decide to visit the website to see what they have.
So I'm perusing the options when I see on the left hand side of the page... about half way down... the nutrition link. I can't help it! I have to see!! And out the window goes my carefree attitude!
I'm seeing calorie counts upwards of 1,200 -1,500 calories! Some dishes having 60, 70, 90 grams of fat! Holy cow!!! Holy big fat giant cow! Which is what I'd be if I ate that stuff! Haha.
But what I loved about this experience is the realization that this weight loss has become more than dieting. Finally, I'm past "diet" stage and I'm living my life differently. My brain has completely changed. From not being able to resist seeing the nutrition to not being able to write off 1,000 calories in one dish! Once I saw how many calories and fat grams were in this food, I had no desire to eat it. It didn't even look good to me anymore. That's amazing! Really, this is a big step!
This is the big problem with our diet culture. It's a diet culture. haha. Seriously, though, we've become about the destination. And, really, in more ways that just with our diets. We are so focused on the outcome that we miss the journey. And almost always the journey counts for more than the destination. This is how yo-yo dieting happens. And this is how many of the diet businesses stay in business. And some of them even take advantage of that. This is why I love Weight Watchers. They consistently make corporate decisions based on what is best for their customers... not what's going to make them more money. Lately, the PointsPlus change was a big risk. Many members had to be won over to the idea. WW had to know that this would result in losing some customers. But they were more concerned with the overall health of those using the program than their comfort level.
And, unfortunately, many people who join Weight Watchers (and many other weight loss programs) quit because of the failure to make a healthy lifestyle change. It's hard! But it is so worth it. It's worth it when you can stop having all those ups and downs that make you feel like crap. When it's a life change, a brain change, you make better decisions more consistently. It's not that you never mess up. But it's that each slip up doesn't become the nails in your coffin. You're able to acknowledge the mistake and move on... knowing your mistakes don't define you. Weight no longer defines you.
So, if you're reading this and you're weight has gone up and down and up and down, and you feel like up may be the only way you'll ever go. Don't lose heart! Numbers whether they're on a scale or on a tag in your clothing don't have any bearing on who you are! You are victorious in whatever you set your mind to be. And you aren't doomed. You have in you what you need to succeed. And anything you lack, He gives over and above!
