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Plateaus




I would like to take a moment to talk about plateaus. Most of us begin to feel frustrated when we hit them (and we all hit them). I have decided to take the time to enjoy the maintenance aspect. I was initially taking a maintenance break, now I have began lowering my calorie intake again in order to lose. However, I am still maintaining, and that is okay.

Here is why: I am healthy, I have no physical ailments that I cannot deal with which might be impeding on the norms of my life. I am strong, I can carry both of my 25# toddlers in my arms up 3 flights of stairs and into their bedroom (or down and into the car) without pausing several times up/down the steps; I can also carry all of my groceries from several stores up and down the stairs without being too winded to put them away after I bring them up. That is a sufficient amount of strength for my current employment ;)

I enjoy my workouts! Many people dread the gym or have to force themselves to get their workout in because they feel like they "should." Nope, I LOVE my gym, I go to Chuze for Team Training, and a quick HIIT at home or standing in line at Disneyland is an absolute delight! I can run (well, jog at a minimum of 4.5mph) an entire 5k! That is about 40 straight minutes and something that I have never been able to do. Even during the PE class mile or the Turkey Trots in middle and high school, I could barely run or jog for 40 straight seconds!

These are all NSVs that I never even thought to strive for in the beginning. They have nothing to do with numbers on the scale, measurements around my hips/waist/thighs, or my value as a human being. These accomplishments did not come about on accident, however, and I am so grateful to past Jessy for committing herself to this journey for the FINAL time!

Anniversary '17 and '16

1 year ago today I committed myself to this journey at 251#. This morning I weighed in at 177.6# (my lowest between Thanksgiving and Christmas was 174.6#). Even while I have gained 3#, I am tearing up as I write this out because this is the result of some intense work, a lot of self-control after years of binge-eating and over-indulging, retraining my brain, and realizing that coming into this "fit mommy" lifestyle does NOT happen overnight and there is not 1 way to do it!

Each day, I thank the Lord for His grace, for the fruits of His Spirit (the patience to allow myself time to adjust and the weight to go up and down a little; the self-control to say no in order to say yes to my goals; the joy to experience the journey and learn new things about my body and my needs as they pertain to my family; the peace to allow plateaus and maintenance breaks and let go of the "all or nothing" mindset), for my amazing husband who has been an incredible encouragement and support every step of the way, and for my little girls as they have given me a fresh perspective on how I see myself - realizing that this is how they will learn to see themselves.

1 Year of Progress not Perfection
I am also extremely grateful to Heather Robertson and the Half Size Me Community! When I found the Half Size Me Podcast in iTunes, I had NO clue what to expect, I just knew that I needed to fill my mind with health and fitness people instead of listening to my constant negativity. Within a week of finding the podcast, I jumped into that community; knowing that I would not last without knowing people who were struggling for years with the same battles of yo-yo dieting and consistent gaining. Thank you all for your willingness to share in this journey with one another and enjoy all of it - even the stumbles :)

There is a number on the scale that I hope to reach, but more than that number, I want all of those things that I have already accomplished. That is why the plateau is not a big deal. And to be able to say that with contentment is a HUGE deal!
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