On my Facebook news feed this year I have been seeing a ton of weight loss stories. People posting the amount of pounds that they've lost, showing their before and after pictures, other people celebrating them like they won an award. And I'll be honest. It has been hard for me. Very hard. Getting to my ultimate weight goal, that big finish line number in which I can stop worrying and finally feel "good", that big magic number that we're all striving for... well it's such a mind game for me. I struggle, frankly, with feeling good enough. This struggle bleeds over into all aspects of my life really. But the one I am going to focus on is my weight. I don't feel skinny enough, pretty enough, fit enough, etc. Enough for what, you might ask? I don't know... just... anything really. When I set out to change my life, I kept an eye on others' stories. And when my "success" wasn't going fast enough, I really lost the "why" of my journey. I didn't feel good enough to be newsworthy on Facebook, or anything really, so I just didn't talk about my weight loss journey to anyone except for those few very close confidants. I didn't post pictures, or numbers of my progress on any of my social media sites. Because I wasn't good enough, fast enough, worthy enough.
The other thing I was struggling with was that I wanted to do this the natural way. Oh, it was tempting to try supplements and special meals or pills. But I had made a choice, and a promise to myself that I wasn't going to take that route. And I won't lie, I did try herbal supplements for a while. But ultimately my choice was to workout and change my nutrition. A lifestyle change. But... I kept struggling with my choice every time I would get on Facebook and see another person's "success". I wasn't happy with my decision because no one could see it, no one saw my struggle, how hard it was, no one saw the hard work I was putting in. The process was just too slow to be proud of. Those were my thoughts, wrong as they were.
Don't worry, I pulled myself up from that floor or depressing thoughts. I found things that inspired me, uplifted me, and now I know it's all okay. I know why the route I chose is the best one for me. No pills, or prepackaged meals will make me truly happy. But the work that I do, the control that I have, is all going to mean something really special in the end. It's all going to pay off and I'll be able to feel proud about what I did and how I did it. Because it's the right thing for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that others can't take those routes I voted down. Good for them for making the choice to change. What I'm saying is that I am now okay with my choice for me.
And it's in part thanks to one of my new role models. Chris Pratt is a major inspiration to me for many reasons but one of the biggest was something that he said in an interview that I only just came across last night. It really touched me.
When Pratt started his journey to slim down for his big time movie roles he weighed somewhere along the lines of 300 lbs. Interviewers are now always asking him what his secret is. It was what he said to one reporter that especially inspired me because I have been struggling with my "slow road".
Here's his answer to her:
"It took a long time. There wasn't any trick to it or any secret to it. It's just a matter of getting after it. That's the problem is that people want to know what the secret it. The secret is... you can't do it in a month. It takes 8 months. Or a year, or a lifetime of consistency; working out every single day and eating properly. And truly feeding yourself.,. not starving yourself but giving yourself proper nutrition to heal. You have to burn off all the crap you put in your body. And then you have to replace it with really good food and fuel. And it takes a long time. It just takes a little bit of consistency. And time is going to go by just as fast whether you're doing it or not. So, who do you want to be 8 months from now? You want to be in good shape? Then get on it today."
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It takes time... And I'm okay with that now. I know who I want to be in 8 months; a year, and I'm okay.
Aw you have such a cute shirt. It's good to find inspiration from others and see that it's not a quick fix but something people work on if it's something they really want. I like that he said healing. Like when you break a bone or something it can't just be put back together and then be fine to walk on in a couple days. Everything that is worth it takes time :)
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