The Wear and Tear on My Family

Well, it's been a pretty good week for exercise and calorie counting. I've managed to get in a couple great workouts. Monday night I worked an hour on the elliptical, followed by 30 minutes on the recumbent bike plus 20 minutes for dumbbell work on my arms. Last night, I took a 12 mile bike ride, and tonight I managed to run 3.1 miles and bike a little over 6 miles. Yay!

I've been pushing pretty hard lately because I'm just a few pounds away from leaving the 200s behind me FOREVER. I'm creating a significant calorie deficit, but it's still not showing on the scale. I know I've hit another plateau, and that's why I'm upping my game with harder workouts, weight training and an increase in water consumption.

When I think back to where I began on this journey, I can't believe how far I've traveled in such a short amount of time. That doesn't mean I'm 100% satisfied with my progress, and I am definitely impatient to reach my destination. "How much further is it? How many more hours?" I feel like a little kid nagging my parents from the backseat during a long road trip.

Physically and emotionally I'm healthier. In fact, I never expected the dramatic impact an 80 pound weight loss would have on my attitude and outlook on life. I am regaining my confidence, recognizing my personal strength and am enjoying a strong sense of well-being.

My weight loss journey is rather tiresome to my immediate family. No one wants to hear about it anymore, and to be fair I've been warned the topic is hopelessly boring. Apparently talking about exercise is equivalent to discussing daily toiletry habits. Needless to say, I have very little support at home. It makes me sad, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel, yet.

My husband teases me about the running. He finds it ridiculous. I've found that while I'm not the fastest runner it does really help shed the pounds, and my leg muscles are now rock solid. Running is cheap, it makes me feel good and I'm actually starting to like it. Did I just say that? My high school physical education teacher would fall to the floor in a fit of hysterical laughter if he ever read that I actually LIKE running.

I have tried unsuccessfully to get my son, daughter and/or husband to go for a walk, ride bike or hike with me. Frankly, no one in this house is interested. I want to keep moving and losing, but I am beginning to feel really guilty about the time I'm spending exercising. Before I started my focus was always on my family, and my wants and needs usually took a backseat to everyone else's. Now, I take the time to exercise, blog and read. I feel healthier, but my family seems to be drifting apart. The wear and tear is showing.

Am I being selfish? They are content with trotting along the same path, and I'm straining at the bit. I want to run, swim, bike and play. Too busy with their iPads, computers, video games and tv shows I leave them behind. There's a definite disconnect, and it's time we all rewire.

Feeling the Burn

Wow! My legs are sore today. My thighs feel like they're on fire. I'm attributing it to all the yard work on Saturday and biking on Sunday. It was unbelievably disappointing to get on the scale this morning and not see the numbers budge. I'm feeling the pain without the gain! I should really rewrite that last sentence and replace gain with loss. I definitely don't want to see any gain.

My legs are dangling off a loathsome weight loss plateau. The scale refuses to give in, and it's going on a couple weeks. The number moves up slightly and then back down. I usually weigh myself twice in the morning just to make sure the first number I get is valid. Once I stepped on the scale discovering I'd lost 15 pounds overnight. Upon closer inspection I discovered an earring back on the floor under the scale. Boy, that might have been some kind of record for weight lost in a single day if true. I'd make a fortune pedaling a drop it quick diet and exercise plan. Alas, it was a false reading. I wish this plateau was just as bogus!

Frustrated and anxious to get this show on the road I've pushed myself physically over the past week. Believe me I've heard it all before "it's more about losing inches" and "muscle weighs more than fat." I'm sorry, but these simple facts don't salve the irritation especially when I still have 70 pounds to go! Googling weight plateau results in numerous articles about increasing exercise and blaming inaccuracy in food intake recordings. Now's not the time to get lazy! I get it, and I'm not. Although staying positive without the negative feedback from the scale is wearying.

Early on the instant gratification motivated me. During the first month I dropped 20 pounds, and I began working even harder. Since the initial loss it's averaged 8-10 pounds a month. My practical self knows this journey is a long haul. It's a lifestyle change not a mere diet, and once I've finally arrived at the destination the next leg begins. All the while, my foolish self hungers for more immediate results and a giant piece of chocolate cake.

Feeling the burn in my thighs today serves to remind me that I'm building muscle and improving my body composition. Feeling the burn confirms I'm giving this my all. Feeling the burn means I'm making progress even if the scale refuses to show it.