Quote:
Originally Posted by graw
I just hate the idea of taking backward steps. Cause it's undoing hard work and it's frustrating.
But you see, the normal weight gains from all those factors I mentioned - they're not backward steps, and they're not undoing anything.
The only gains that are backward steps that "undo" anything, are those caused by backward stepping behavior (that is, overeating). And even those don't really undo anything, because even those steps are normal, and most people won't be able to entirely prevent them.
We're taught to treat weight loss much differently than most other skills we try to learn. If we were to take up mountain climbing, none of us would react to a stumble by throwing ourselves off the nearest cliff, so that we could "start fresh" tomorrow or Monday. In fact, doing so would probably eliminate the possibility to start fresh.
The appropriate response to a slip or stumble in dieting, is the same as for mountain climbing. Pick yourself up and keep heading in the direction you were going. You can decide to stay where you are and rest until you're ready to go on, or you can even decide to go back - but you do either by intentionally deciding to. You may stumble (either intentionally or accidentally) but you don't have to decide that a stumble means you're doomed to failure.
And gains that aren't caused by overeating, aren't even stumbles. They're just part of the normal progression of results. You just have th wait them out. When mountain climbing, a rockslide or snowslide can push you back, but it doesn't "undo" the effort and accomplishment that went into the climb. It can be frustrating, but experienced climbers aren't going to let it get them down. We likewise, don't have to be sidetracked by occasional gains (even when they are due to our mistakes).
You can do this. I can't tell you how long it will take, or how many mistakes you will make, or how many obstacles you'll face, but as long as you face the right direction, and keep making steps toward your goal, you will get there.
I've "failed off" 94 lbs. I say failed off, because I always quit diets in the past for failing to lose at least 1-2 lbs per week. Until this month, I don't think I've even had a 4 lb per month loss. So I've "failed off" 90 of those 94 lbs, and I've only "succeeded" on month out of 7 years of work.
All that time was success, because I was doing far better than the average. I was doing extraordinarily well, but I didn't always feel that way, because I didn't know how well I was doing.
You truly have to understand normal to know how well you're doing just by sticking with the effort. Just not giving up makes you extraordinary.