Fluctuations
The truth is… the part that comes after weight loss sucks. You feel amazing yet incredibly self conscious. You look great but continue to see your old self. You live in fear of gaining it all back, sabotaging all of the hard work. Obsessively looking at yourself in the mirror or weighing yourself, fretting if you’re starting to go back to old habits… Or at least that’s been my experience.
It’s been just over 2 years since I started my weight loss journey. It continues to amaze me how far I’ve come, but as I’m my own worst critic, I see how far I need (and want) to go. The hardest part of this is that I’m a style blogger, which means a steady stream of photos of myself. And of course, I critique every square inch: an extra chin, a tummy roll, a chunky thigh, a jiggly arm. I see it all and the internet is not a forgiving place, so I wonder how many others see it…
But, that’s not the point. The point is we all fluctuate, whether it’s 5lbs or 50lbs. Where we’re at in our life is going to dictate where we’re at with our health and our fitness. After a solid 2 years of marked changes and improvements in my personal physical fitness and health, this year I’ve constantly been battling with the same 10lbs. It has been an uphill battle the last 6 months: extensive travel for work, a stressful work year, a new job. It’s not excuses, it’s reality and sometimes that’s life. It’s hard to see the scale increase every so often, awakening the insecurities and causing me to worry that I will relapse into old habits.
Honestly, what keeps me going is the fear of falling back into old habits and losing out on my new-found strength, both mental and physical. The journey has been intense, but I wouldn’t change it even on those days where I think, life sure would be easy if I could eat whatever I want… Sure, it might be “easier” but my body would be unhealthy and I would probably be a much different person. Plus, I have this whole new wardrobe, which has been an expensive investment!
No matter what your journey, when you get discouraged or disappointed, find your strength and keep pushing forward. These are the fights worth fighting!
Top // Pants (similar) // Sports Bra c/o Brooks Running
