Trying to lose weight is equally one of the most gratifying, frustrating, and difficult things that a person can set out upon. Week 2 of the 90-Day Challenge has definitely taken me through all those emotions and more. Even though weight loss can seem like simple math (less calories + more exercise = less weight right?) what goes on inside your body is anything but simple. There’s this complex relationship between calories consumed, calories burned, muscle mass, body recovery, sleep, and every other system that can sometimes make us go crazy when trying to lose weight. Crazy enough to make this face.
Just The Stats Jack – Week 2 of the 90 Day Challenge
So what’s making me crazy? This.
As you can see by this fancy little chart I’ve supplied I started the challenge and blew off 10 lbs in less than a week. Then I gained a couple, lost a couple, gained a couple, lost a couple and then AARRGGHH!!! As it stands at the moment I have lost 11.2 pounds since the challenge started. For anyone trying to loose weight systemically this can be really mentally challenging. But the reality is, this is supposed to be happening and here’s why.
Scales Suck
Whoever thought keeping track of your overall weight by using only a scale is an idiot. While simple in concept, weighing yourself in order to figure out what’s going on inside your body is like trying to determine the state of the world economy by looking at the stock market every day. Your weight in pounds is surely an indicator, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. Even though I have only “lost” an additional 1.2 pounds this week I can tell you that I am surely much “fitter” than I was 7-days ago.
Keeping It Real
How? Well for one thing I feel healthier. While that statement isn’t exactly made up of empirical evidence, it shouldn’t be discounted. Long before scales, doctors, and medicine, our bodies figured out how to tell us whether or not we were on the right track, and it’s important to remember that. Secondly, all my clothes are looser. Technically I should have pulled out a tape measure two weeks ago and measured some key points, but I didn’t. So I’ll just have to trust the fact that I’m getting smaller and my clothes aren’t spontaneously getting larger. Thirdly, and probably most importantly, is the fact that I am exercising a whole lot more. When I first started this 90-Day challenge, I was taking a 30 minute walk each morning. By the end of week 2, I exercised for 40 minutes where I ran for 25 of those minutes up hill. That’s a huge difference.
It’s All About Perspective
Whenever you embark on this kind of journey, it’s critical to realize that it’s supposed to be a life-long journey focused on living a happier, healthier, and longer life. You can’t get hung up on the little things like gaining a pound or two or whether or not you “cheated” on one meal. You have to take the long view and focus on the end result. I mean come’ on, it took me years to become a 300lb behemoth, why in the world would it only take a few weeks to change that right? So I’m gonna keep on drinking my shakes and walking my walks as I continue along this journey on the road to fit!
