A journey in words...

Welcome to my journey in words! A story about health, exercise, weight loss, food addiction, humor, size discrimination, sarcasm, social commentary and all the rest that’s rattling around inside my head...

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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Help From a Friend

I’m so far behind this week; I wanted to do a post last Friday and am just getting to the topic from that day now, on Tuesday. Oy! Chalk it up to my busy season at work. I’ve been coming home (in the dark – yuck), exercising, showering, eating, staring at an hour of TV and then pretty much going to bed.

At any rate; last Friday’s weigh-in put me at 257 total or a twenty three pound weight loss from my starting weight of 280. At this point I would say I’m very well pleased with my progress.

I’m a little concerned simply because the last time I made a significant weight loss attempt I got to the thirty pound mark and then gave up. I’m approaching thirty pounds now so a self destructive part of me keeps whispering that’s as long as my staying power is going to last. I know that’s irrational; but I’ll feel better when the thirties are done and safely behind me.

Also – still no unsolicited notices of “hey there… did you loose weight?” Nope, not yet. Although since most of my friends and family know what I’m doing that’s going to be a little hard to come by, I admit.

Friday I took a friend to the gym with me – which is going to put me on the topic of support and accountability. Previously I’ve talked about all the great support I get from my spouse, but there’s just something really helpful about going through it together with a friend who knows where you’re coming from. Lets face it – my husband is one of those males whose never given a thought to cutting back his calories and always maintains perfect body weight and cholesterol anyway… all while indulging in the occasional cheese steak. My friend and I however are of a similar circumstance although she’s a bit taller and has a WAY more athletic background. However we’re more or less in the same sized boat.

Basically we both know exactly what the other is going through right now. And what is it about doing something hard together that just makes it… easier somehow? I guess it’s that incredible human capacity for empathy, the thing that makes a man reach his hand back for a fallen friend. The way women encourage one another and celebrate each other’s successes. None of us want to be alone, we’re social creatures – we weren’t made to be alone. Looking at another and seeing in their eyes that yeah, they get it. It just helps.

And accountability is a wonderful thing. Just this week alone I’ve had two people say to me; ‘you know I noticed you haven’t put up a post in a few days…’ That provides more motivation than I can describe. I’ve willingly let the world (or at least my world) watch me at this endeavor and I have to say; it was a good idea. It’s keeping me honest.

The only downside to our joint excursion is that none of my bizarre gym habit people were on hand for me to show to my friend. Bummer.

1 comment:

  1. You know this, but I'm gonna say it anyway. The only thing keeping you unhappy with your weight - the only thing keeping you "fat" and keeping you from being as healthy as you can be - is you. And the only person who can change it is you. You just gotta stick with it. This blog ain't called "the long road I almost walked and then changed my mind and took a nap instead" :)

    I hate to put it like that, but I hope you get the idea. You owe it to yourself to stick with this! Not sticking with this is letting those idiots who say "fat people just don't have self control" win. You'd be proving them right. And you and I both know they're not.

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