3 John 1:2 ESV
Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health, as it goes well with your soul.

Here I am, a week into this weight loss journey. Yesterday, I planned to water fast, which was not a great idea at all. I’d be at a wedding with delicious drinks and food everywhere. Everywhere. I. Looked. There. Were. Delicacies!

Still, I am happy to say that I am down 5 pounds!

I fit into the dress; I didn’t want to share the photo but decided to anyway. This weight loss blog is all about transparency. I will look back and be glad I did it.

But I must admit that I am uncomfortable looking at the individual in the photo. Is it just me, or are there others who don’t feel as big as they are? I see myself in a photo and think to myself, “I am huge!” It’s crazy how fast it creeps up on us. I didn’t care before, but now I do. I mentally feel like myself, but when I see the photo, I think to myself, “That’s not me.”

If you’re hiding from the camera, it’s time to make some life changes. I encourage you to, because it’s only been a week, and I feel marvelous already. I am not giving negativity any mental real estate. I am only working towards positive thoughts and speaking kind words to myself.

Sleep 

Last night’s Fitbit sleep score was 86. It seems much easier to sleep better on the weekends when I’m not worried about getting up on time. 

Stress

According to my Fitbit, my stress rating was 79, which is a bit high. 

I think it was due to the wedding and the road trip home at 10:30 p.m. The kids had more sugar than a circus trip! My hope for a quiet ride home was ruined by the kids’ constant moving and arguing, not to mention a tired husband yearning for any kind of noise barrier. I was exhausted, too.

Heart Rate

I am still at 75 beats per minute for my resting heart rate. 

Clothing

I am feeling so much better in my clothes. My fat is not bulging as much, although it is still bulging. My bra is looser, too. 

Challenges

My husband might have been the one to tempt me to fall off the wagon… I’m also giving him credit for this… He asked me to get him some snacks. 

The spread of food was breathtaking! A massive charcuterie board table in this enormously beautiful lodge. It had everything that you could imagine. I loaded up gourmet cheeses, nuts, chocolate-covered nuts, dried fruits, meats, crackers, cupcakes, and brownies. 

I took it all out to Jordan and the kids. They sat in comfortable lawn chairs overlooking this beautiful lake in Georgetown, Montana. What a moment not to be able to have a tasty treat. (Eyeroll)

I did it. I caved. 

I ate a few snacks, cheeses, meats, and about three chocolate-covered nuts. To celebrate, I even had a bite of a gourmet chocolate cupcake and a small glass of Merlot. 

It was divine. 

The experience and the people were the greatest part. We were so thankful for the invite and treasured our friend Ryan, the groom. He is like family to us, yet he can drive me absolutely nuts! 

Congratulations Ryan!  

Lessons

Always bring your water bottle for weight loss. I guzzled 1.5 liters before the event, but it was not even close to enough on a hot day. It didn’t help that my children didn’t bring enough water for themselves. Treating myself at an event is joyous. Treating myself at non-momentous times is overindulgence. I would like to save those goodies for special occasions because they make the moments more exceptional. 

Wisdom

I slept a very short period the night before – 4 ½ hours, actually. Knowing there’d be an event the next day was definitely not a good choice. 

When we arrived at the wedding, before we got out of the car, I asked Jordan to encourage me during my weak moments later in the day, when I’d be more likely to deviate from my goals. When I’m tired, I find it impossible to fight the urges. 

It worked! At about 8:30 p.m., I told Jordan I wanted a gourmet cupcake. He leaned over and delicately said, “Babe, you’re getting tired. I will get one, and you can have a bite of mine.” He also asked if I was ready to leave. I took a moment to ask myself how I was feeling. 

As I took a quiet moment, leaning over the second story of this large deck overlooking the lake, I realized everything on my body was starting to feel heavy. “Yes, Babe, I am ready to go.” 

There is so much to balance with my weight loss journey. But keeping a strong mental mind and taking moments to assess the feelings behind your urges has been helpful. Is it fatigue, irritability, sadness, or something else? 

Having strategies in place to prepare for those battles can make your goals that much easier to reach. 🙌 You are one day closer to your goals. Learn from the slips and press on with more courage than ever! 

I look forward to sharing more of my journey over the next few weeks. If you like what you’ve read, sign up for my newsletter! You’ll receive weekly emails to keep you in the loop so you don’t miss any of my updates!

-Christian, Wrecked and Refined