Sunday, August 15, 2010

Finding The Good Within The Bad

“You have given people permission to have a bad day.”

That’s what my husband just said to me. We were chatting about all of the beautiful comments that people have been leaving on my photo video presentation post and he was telling me that he was pretty gobsmacked by the number of people who are very generously telling me that my journey is inspirational. And then he made that comment and it really hit home.

“You have given people permission to have a bad day.”

I struggled through more than fifteen years of failed weight loss attempts without knowing that it was okay to have those bad days. I always felt like if I messed up that it wasn’t worth continuing. Or, worse still, that I could make up for it the next day which would quickly result in a series of bad moments that left me staring down the barrel of ‘catching up’ by doing eight hours of workouts and eating nothing but celery and water for a week. Of course that was never going to happen, so I would give up! With that type of pressure, who wouldn’t?!

But, finally I have learned that it really is alright to have those days where things don’t go perfectly. Anyone who has been reading me for any length of time knows that I have struggled a lot lately. I am about ten pounds heavier than the lowest weight I got down to and I have had some real issues with my sugar intake. I have had difficulties finding the time and motivation to do more than a few squats for my ‘exercise’ on more days than not for a few weeks now. And I have even had a few old emotional quirks pop up that I have had to work through to continue making progress of any type on this journey.

But I haven’t given up. Even with all of those bad days.

Life is full of hard moments – short and long – but they are greatly tempered and overshadowed by our successes and joys. The key is to let them. I could dwell on all that I have struggled with (and if I am being honest, I will even say that at times I have), but the best relief for such issues is to focus on what is ahead, not on what has already passed. Yes, it IS okay to have bad days. And it is possible to be successful at weight loss – at anything, really – despite having difficulties, and perhaps even because of them.

I have said it before and I will say is again: Perfection isn’t possible, it isn’t realistic, and it is extremely boring. I am so glad that my journey has not been perfect. I am proud that it has had its share of struggles. And I am extremely happy that with my example of unwavering fallibility that I “have given people permission to have a bad day”!

FOOD & BEVERAGES:
- 9 glasses of water
- 1 1/2 cups celery with light peanut butter
- 3/4 cup fat free vanilla pear yogurt with 1 cup honey nut granola cereal
- 2 1/2 cups cherry-lime, root beer, orange, and grape slushie
- 8 vegetable and chive crackers with herb and garlic soft cheese
- 1/2 cup strawberries with lemon dip
- 3 cups grapes with lemon dip
- 1 cheeseburger on a sesame bun hamburger with bacon, fried onion, tomato, mayonnaise, relish, and mustard
- 1 cup broccoli crunch salad
- 1/2 hot dog on a hot dog bun with mayonnaise, relish, and mustard
- 1 piece of a lemon square
- 3 bites peanut butter chocolate bar
- 1 peanut butter flavoured nougat chocolate bar
- 2 cups mint chocolate bar ice cream blend

EXERCISE:
- 1 1/2 hours in a swimming pool

13 comments:

  1. As your husband said, you are an inspiration. I am feeling so negative today, too negative to think it could be me in a similar videoclip one day. But, as your husband also said, it's OK to have a bad day. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be on my way to making my videoclip. Thank you

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  2. I am just so excited. It is like meeting you all over again, but in a different way. Happy Anniversary. May next year be even more awesome than the first.

    Cheers,
    Missa
    LosingEthel

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  3. That is something that has taken me many years to figure out. I don't have to be perfect, that there are days when i definitely won't but that doesn't mean my journey is over!!
    Thank you for this motivational post.

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  4. I have been reading your old posts, and I am so hungry for english muffins and peanut butter ! :)

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  5. I am right there with you. This is HARD. :)

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  6. I just found your blog yesterday, and I'm inspired already...especially by your video.
    So much so, that I had my husband take photos of me this morning...in a tanktop! (I never wear sleeveless anything.)
    I beginning again...after a lot of bad days. I know they'll be more in the future...but hopefully not as many consecutive days as in the past.
    I can't wait to have the time to go back and read all of your older posts. :)

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  7. I am glad you are not perfect!! I need to see real people doing this. I need to see that you struggle, because I struggle every day! You have struggled and still you are a success! If you can do it, so can I!! I am inspired!!! Hugs!

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  8. Love it. I have struggled for many years with weight loss. In fact I posted all my previous attempts on my blog. This year I learned the valuable lesson of I can pick up from where I slipped. I can move on. I don't need to destroy what I have already created.

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  9. This is a great thought. I hope this comes across correctly, but sometimes I'm encouraged to see someone who has done so amazingly well struggle a bit. It helps me see that he/she is normal. It gives me hope that I can make it to my goals and overcome my bad days.

    Thank you for continuing to honestly share your heart throughout this journey.

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  10. I am still in the process of realizing this. But your journey is a real inspiration. A lot of times I am struggling to get up after a 'fall'. Trying not to give up. I am still learning

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  11. Wow! What an incredible journey! I just found your blog and am starting on my own journey and will definitely be coming back here for inspiration. Watching your video brought me to tears because it is what I want so badly for myself. Congratulations! So beautiful and thank you for sharing!

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  12. Yay! Bad days CAN turn into huge successes! And thanks again to everyone for all the lovely comments!

    Little Lotta, we all have days like that - don't worry!

    Amy, I think that's great! Way to go on stepping outside of your comfort zone to get a really good fresh start! :)

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