Weight Loss, Successes and Setbacks

I'm writing this because this year has been really interesting in the case of weight loss for me. I've had some massive successes, and some massive setbacks. It all started when  my friend Ryan was in the hospital. He was in there for something with his lungs but his weight had exacerbated the problem. So I offered my condolences but then offered him a bet as well. You see, I knew it was going to take a lot of work for him to lose weight. And I also knew that he is very competitive.

My idea was to have a structured bet that would last a whole year. This was inspired by watching my favourite weight loss show called Extreme Makeover: Weight loss Edition. They break the year into 3 month chunks and have a weigh in every three months to see progress. That way you're motivated to keep losing weight every 3 months. So my bet with Ryan is a structured bet, every three months we weigh in and see how we're doing. 

He won the first bet, I won the second bet and the third remains to be seen in a couple weeks on December 1st. What I found is losing weight is not the hard part. The hard part is maintaining the weight loss. It's about life style change and also offering grace to yourself when you screw up. As frustrating as it can be you have to look at setbacks as just that, simply setbacks.

Setbacks don't define you and neither  do victories for that matter.  Weight loss is so hard and as fitness people tell you it's really more about fat loss.  In my case those two usually go hand in hand.  I have  reached one of my major goals earlier in the year and then did a second time as well.  

But each time I've gone back up. It's like my brain shuts off as soon as I hit that mark.  It's right about the 200 lbs mark, I like to be under that. I look healthier and I feel a lot better about myself, it's just a good number for me. My ideal number is 185 but I think it'd be really hard to maintain that weight. So, I want to get down to 200 and stay that way. That's about where I'm functioning at a high level and I feel great about myself and how I look.

My wife has repeatedly told me that she loves me no matter what my size and I know she does but I just feel better about myself when I'm a healthier weight. My doctor told me once that he likes it when I'm around 200 and I jokingly said I like that too. But it's just so hard to maintain that. But, what's most important is that you pick yourself up and keep going and keep going and keep going. 

Again, I find that when I hit my mark usually for some reason my brain shuts off and says, "Yeah, we hit the mark, it's time to celebrate, you can eat whatever you want."  That's where discipline comes in. Discipline is necessary in every area of life period.  Discipline to me really means just consistency in the same direction. Because motivation is easy to come by but motivation doesn't last very long.  Consistency is key in all areas of life,  especially fitness. 

So I'm hoping when I get down to 200 again, and I will get there, my brain doesn't shut off this time and just have a party for a month like I did last time. And if it does I hope I can get back on the wagon quicker.

Figuring out Parenting

Months ago I told a friend “We’re still figuring out this parenting thing.”  Then I quickly realized that is most likely a never ending process. He laughed and affirmed it by adding he’s still figuring that out and one of his kids is 30.

Just when I/we think we have our little guy figured out, he throws us a curveball.  Don’t get me wrong, right now is a very sweet time as he smiles a lot and laughs too (I’m hoping he ends up with a laugh like mine :) )  

Sometimes it’s just frustrating when you can’t figure out why he’s crying or fussy, ya know?  Most recently it was bc he was cutting his first tooth. As a friend once told me, “I’d cry too if I had something cutting through my gums!”  Amen to that brother. You just wish you could make the pain go away as a parent though, don’t you?

I’m learning a ton about being a dad as I go.  And honestly, I’m learning a lot about life too.  Lately he’s been struggling as he’s trying to figure out this crawling deal.  He can get up on all fours but can’t quite figure out how to get forward motion yet.  He tries and tries, I put my hand behind him to give him some stability, but he just can’t get it yet.  

The crazy thing is he keeps trying.  There’s a great life lesson in there.  We’ve all heard the saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.”  It’s amazing to watch him as he tries and tries and gets frustrated but then picks it up again later that day or the next.

Many people say, “Enjoy the process” when it comes to life.  I understand that a lot more now and am starting to finally ‘get it.’  Parenting is hard work and if you don’t enjoy the process you’ll just end up miserable and miss out on the joy God has for you during this phase of life.

So, while sometimes I think about what he’s going to be like when he’s older, most times I just try to enjoy where he’s at right now.  To be fair, it’s relatively easy right now since he’s smiling at us a lot and laughing on a regular occasion.

I know when he hits toddler stage it will be harder to enjoy the process but hopefully I can get in the practice now to remember to do so then.  He’ll be there before we know it, I can’t believe he’s 6 months old already. My mom asked me months ago if I could believe he was already 7 weeks old.  I responded I couldn’t believe he wasn’t 2 years old already with how long the days felt.

Now though the time is flying by and as I said I’m focusing my attention on enjoying the process of raising him and watching him grow.  And my how that boy does grow. He certainly likes his groceries! People here can’t believe how big our boy is for only 6 months and I believe at his 4 month weigh in he was in the 90th percentile!  Not looking forward to that grocery bill when he gets older!

He’s a true joy right now, and so is watching Stef with him.  She’s an incredible wife and mom and it’s fun watching her dote on him.  The only problem is now he gets way more kisses than I do lol Can’t blame her though, I can’t resist that kid’s cheeks either  :)

What about you?  Are you ‘enjoying the process’ in whatever life stage you’re in?