I’m faking it.

New Year’s 2008. I start my diet with 100% committment…..I choose my plan, I choose my beginning calorie limit, I visit 3FC everyday and become accountable, I start blogging as I’ve heard that “journaling” is a major component of a successful weight loss plan. 

But, I’m a fake.  Because, you see, deep down inside, I don’t really believe that I can lose the weight.  I don’t believe that I’ll ever be under 200 pounds again.  There…I’ve said it.  It doesn’t get much more real and honest for me than this.

The problem is not that I think I can’t stick to my plan……that I have no willpower or committment.  The problem is that I truly believe that my body is different.  The laws of physics just don’t apply.  What works for every other woman out there in diet land just won’t work for me.  For instance, look at what has happened this week.   Over the holidays, I ate everything under the sun. I hadn’t been on-plan for at least two months.  Now, I’m back on-plan and should be able to lose that initial big poundage, right?   Wrong.  Its true that I did lose .8 of a pound for Monday’s weigh-in.  La dee da! So far this week, I’ve not lost a thing….not even .2 of a pound!  Nada.  Zilch.  A big fat goose egg…  despite the fact that I’ve stayed under my calories every single day. The last two days, I’ve been a bit depressed because nothing is happening.  I’ve been diagnosed with insulin resistance.  I have goiters which can impact my metabolism.  Granted, goiters typically mean hyperthyroidism, but there is a chance that I could turn hypothryroid, right?  I’m in full menopause and use hormone therapy.  Despite the fact that women just like me have lost a lot of weight, I still catch myself feeling that I won’t be one of the blessed ones.  That I will have to suffer the life of a fat woman for the rest of my life.  That, for some reason, I don’t deserve to be slender and healthy and God will withold this from me.  This is how I feel…..deep down in my heart.

My heart feels doubtful, but my head tells me another story.  Last year, I lost 30 pounds! And, I kept it off…..so, I should know that weight loss is possible for this body of mine. But, I really do need to face reality.  I’ve been watching my calories, but I’m virtually a couch potato. Do I really believe that my body is so “special” that I can be the only woman who can lose a ton of weight with absolutely no exercise?! I work from home.  The most exercise I get is walking around the aisles of Walmart every once in a while!  I get up in the morning, get the kids off to school, fix myself a cup of coffee and sit down at my computer to start working….and, there I sit for the rest of the day and into the evening.  Then, I’ll get up….eat dinner…go take a hot bath..then sit on the couch and watch some shows…then, its off to bed to wake up the next morning and repeat the cycle.  Weekends are a little bit more active as I do some house cleaning.  But, my point is….I get practically no exercise at all.  I’m not surprised that I reached 264 pounds….I’m actually surprised that I didn’t gain even more.

I chose my plan, I chose my calorie limit, I became accountable on 3FC and I started blogging…….but, I neglected to start exercising.  So, my plan beginning tomorrow is to get on the treadmill every single day.  Initially, I’ll do a 30 minute walk.  I’ll build up to an hour…then I’ll increase the speed…before you know it, I’ll be doing the C25K program!Tomorrow, I’ll put together that weight lifting regimen….and, I’ll steadily increase the weights, the sets and the reps…..before you know it, I’ll have beautiful slimming metabolism building muscles!  For now, I’ll fake it.  And, you know what?  I bet….before you know it, my heart will realize that weight loss is possible for this body of mine.

6 Responses to “I’m faking it.”

  1. Nori - fitmom Says:

    I TOTALLY relate to that thinking process of “I’m a special case”. We’re not! We’re normal! I think you’re on to something HUGE in realizing that exercise will be your ticket to your goals!!! Start with something that you KNOW you cannot fail at and then build from there. I’m so excited for you! I’ll bet your insulin resistance will be a thing of the past too!

  2. jlbake Says:

    I can also relate to the fear that “maybe I’m different and can’t lose the weight.” But you know–it’s okay to fake it. One of favorite authors, C. S. Lewis, said:

    “What is the good of pretending to be what you are not? Well . . . there are two kinds of pretending. There is a bad kind, where the pretence is there instead of the real thing; as when a man pretends he is going to help you instead of really helping you . . . . But there is also a good kind, where the pretence leads up to the real thing. When you are not feeling particularly friendly but know you ought to be, the best thing you can do . . . is to put on a friendly manner and behave as if you were a nicer person than you actually are. And in a few minutes . . . you will be really feeling friendlier than you were. Very often the only way to get a quality in reality is to start behaving as if you had it already.”

    It sounds like you are ready to “fake it ’til you make it!” Go get on the treadmill girl! We’ll do it together!

  3. lillie Says:

    I’m with you on this. I’ve thought this about myself for a long time. But I lost 42 pounds a few years ago so I know it’s not true. It can be done. It won’t be easy but we have each other to encourage and uplift. Like they said, fake it til you make it, my friend. This time next year, we’ll be on the goal forum on 3fatchicks!

  4. jarjonja Says:

    Thanks for the visit to my blog. The sad thing about watching and baking is I don’t EVER watch Paula Deen…I don’t really care for her show…way too silly but as I was flipping thru the channels that brownie pizza caught my eye and I kept it there and watched her make the whole thing instead of doing what I should have and watched Walker, Texas Ranger…he doesn’t cook!!!

    Now as for you not believing you can lose the weight…of course you can…you did it before didn’t you? Remember it IS mind over matter…YOU CAN DO THIS!!!
    Hugs,
    Judy

  5. brseay Says:

    I think we all have been there but I am proud of you for not giving in to that helpless feeling. For me, I know that having a plan is half the battle. Now that you have your exercise plan stick with it no matter what. I know not everyone enjoys exercise but hopefully you’ll find that once you force yourself to do it for a while that you will actually look forward to it. Good or bad keep us posted, we’re here for you.

  6. seraphimbeauty21 Says:

    I feel like this right now, I mean I’m sitting here looking at all the inspiration,and i even have good foods in the house.But then I’m like, i know im gonna mess up, i know i’m going to do something i shouldn’t do….
    I dont have many words of encouragement, but you’re not alone!Maybe we could over come this feeling together.

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