08/06/17
Day 145
Extreme Accountability Challenge
Today’s weight 222.6 pounds
Starting weight 304 pounds
Destination weight 175 pounds
Total weight loss to date 81.4 pounds
47.6 pounds to go
Hitting a plateau, as most call it, can be really discouraging when you have a lot of weight to lose. Over the last several days I have hit one of those plateaus. My diet and exercise have been on target, I’ve not cheated.
So maybe it’s more about perspective. I really think most challenges are really about perspective. So I decided to check this plateau thing out.
This is what I found when I Googled the word plateau.
pla·teau plaˈtō/
noun
1.an area of relatively level high ground.
synonyms:upland, tableland, plain, mesa, highland, coteau
“a windswept plateau”
2.a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress.
“the peace process had reached a plateau”
synonyms:quiescent period; More
verb
1. reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress.
“the industry’s problems have plateaued out
First let’s take the second definition of plateau,
a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress.
Well regarding the process of weight loss I could be discouraged, but I choose not to. I reverse the view, I turn this picture around. What if I changed my perspective to when I was in the “weight gain” process, plateauing at that point was a good thing. Have you ever gone through a period when you ate a lot of calories and jumped on the scales and to your surprise you plateaued? I know that I have. I was doing the activity that should have resulted in weight gain only to plateau, I was happy about those plateaus. And like a good little glutton I continued to overeat and worked my way out of that plateau all the way to 304 pounds! Success!! Not!
I can learn from those plateaus. If I continue the healthy changes to my behavior, and not lose heart, just like when I was gaining, I will lose.
Now consider the first definition of plateau
1.an area of relatively level high ground.
synonyms:upland, tableland, plain, mesa, highland, coteau
“a windswept plateau”
Whether you’ve had success losing some weight or are just starting, recognize the plateau as high ground where you can assess your progress. Use this time to get brutally honest with yourself. Have you made the necessary changes or are you still having a bite of this and a taste of that?
Have you been at this plateau for days or has it been weeks or months. If so change your approach.
From the “high ground” of this plateau.
1- Don’t get discouraged
2-Keep the appropriate perspective
3-Use this plateau as an opportunity to access your behavior with food
4- Be honest
5-Make the necessary changes, if any
It may feel uncomfortable and down right unsafe at first but….
Remember comfort and safety are overrated.
Get uncomfortable and take a chance and…
Press post then press forward.
175 pounds here I come!!!