It's not just about what you lose but also what you gain

linda1243

I have been dieting all my life, but for the past couple of months I have really gotten into the exercising and now I am onto the logging of food. I haven't gotten very far in my weight loss journey, but I already feel good and wanted to share what I have gained so far so that maybe someone who is losing motivation will read it and realize that there are small victories along the way.

1.) I am gaining a respect and a self-awareness of my body.
I would never expect my car to get me from point a to point b without the proper fuel and I cannot expect my body to do a hard-core/intense workout without the proper fuel. I used to try to eat as few calories as possible in day but now I have realized that is not proper fuel. If anything, I felt tired and lethargic and I knew I wasn’t putting much energy into my workouts. I have now upped the amount of calories I eat a day (almost doubled the amount) and now I am energized and I jump into my workouts with everything I have and I am still losing weight. However, I am making sure it is proper fuel. Eating that many calories a day, I make sure that they are “proper fuel” - healthy, useful calories.

2.) I am gaining self-discipline.
I log my food and exercise. I pre-plan my meal and make sure my workouts are scheduled on my calendar so I have time for them. I am make sure that when my body starts to feel sleepy at night, I start getting ready for bed. I basically act like taking care of myself is a job. It may not pay me but I am definitely seeing rewards. Yes, there are days where I get off track but better bad days than worthless months

3.) I am gaining insight to my friendships.
How many activities were planned around getting together to eat? When I plan other events with my friends, more active events such as hiking, biking and walking, do we have things to talk about? Are my friends encouraging toward my health goals or at least respect my decisions or are they all about the sabotage?

4.) I am gaining a sense of pride.
I do not look like a super model. I still have a long way to go in my health plan, but I already feel better about myself. I am proud that I can do the workouts that I do. I am proud that I am being disciplined with something that most would consider optional. I am proud that my unpretty, very lumpy, extra heavy body is keeping up with me and the challenges I throw at it and I am proud to see even the slightest changes in it. It feels good to be proud of myself.

What have you gained on your journey to be healthy? Are you surprised at some of the things you have learned along the way?

leslisa

I gained the realization that life isn't quite as cookie cutter as I always thought.