It’s time for an update! Last week I told you guys that I joined a weight loss healthy eating challenge. It’s been a full week now that I have been meal prepping, working out daily, and drinking tons of water.
Before I go into my week 1 results let me first share that this has indeed been a challenge.
I went to the dentist earlier this week. This is important because I hate going to the dentist. I normally reward myself after my check up with a treat. Specifically, a food treat. I’d usually go to The Cheesecake Factory and get a slice of Cheesecake to go. Or, I’d stop in one of the other restaurants and get something special. I couldn’t do that this time because of this healthy eating & weight loss challenge. It was super hard to resist and get out of my old pattern. But I did. I reminded myself that it’s called a challenge for a reason. So I just needed to woman up, soldier it, and treat myself in some other way. So I got something from the Lush store instead of a treat.
Another challenge I faced was just not wanting to eat the meals that I prepped. I think I mentioned before that I have a hard time sticking to planned meals because the things that I think I want and Sunday are often not what I actually end up wanting later in the week. So far this has rang true for this Challenge. By Wednesday I definitely didn’t really want my prepped food. But I basically stuck to the plan about 80% and did okay. This week I’ll be adding some of the things I was craving this week.
My hormones ended up being another challenge this week. On Saturday I woke up completely wanting to quit this challenge. I didn’t want to meal prep anymore. I didn’t want to stick to the plan. I didn’t want to focus on the water. I wanted the day off from working out. I just didn’t want to do any of it anymore. But, I realize that how I was feeling didn’t make sense. I can look in the mirror and see that the hard work was paying off. Also the scale was moving in the right direction. There was no real reason for me to want to just abandon the challenge.
I thought a little bit and realize that what was really going on. I had stopped taking a birth control pill that I have to take some time as part of my fertility treatment and the shift in my hormones was causing me to feel down, anxious, and ready to give up. So I had to remind myself of something a therapist once told me. Sometimes feelings are just feelings and we don’t have to act on all of them. So, I decided to just keep going with the challenge. I acknowledged those feelings but I didn’t need to do anything different based on them. By the way I did a quick video on this in the Chasing Joy Facebook group so check that out if you’re a member and if you’re not a member click here to join us.
As you can see it has been a challenge indeed. But I have made it through week one and I have no intention of giving up. I will continue on through weeks two and three. Even though this was called a July healthy eating weight loss challenge it’s really just 21 days. So they’re just two weeks left. What will keep me going and encouraged is my results from Week 1.
Goal 1 – AffirmationSpecific -Yes, read my weight loss/ healthy eating challenge affirmation 3 times a dayMeasurable -Yes, three times dailyActionable – Set phone alarm for 3 times a day as a reminder to say affirmation. Times set for work and non workdaysRealistic – YesTime Sensitive – Yes, Through 7/29Goal 1 – Stick to Meal Plan 100% on 7/23
Specific – Yes, Have all planned meals as prepped on 7/23
Measurable – Yes
Actionable – Prep all meals for 7/23 on or before 7/21
Realistic – Yes
Time Sensitive – Yes, one day 7/23
Sounds like you’re doing great. The first week is always the hardest. I would say when you’re feeling down write a list of stuff to cheer you on instead of buying something. or read a book.
I feel like I am having a hard time with week 2 more than I was with week 1.