Stuck in a Rut

Posted by Dar | June 2, 2010 .

Well life sure has been busy lately and summer is just getting started! Okay, I reckon that is just my excuse for being stuck in a rut! Here is a confession for you...I have actually lost and gained and lost and gained the same five pounds since December 2009. I guess my rut is more like a ditch that I am digging with my teeth! I guess I should be thankful that it is only 5 pounds that I have been struggling with. That is actually an accomplishment in of itself! Typically I would probably have gained more or all of what I have lost by now. So I am actually okay with the 5 pounds up and down and up and down...Okay, maybe I am not. My hope back in December of 2008 was to have lost 130 pounds by now, but I haven't. I am only down 40 pounds. I try not to let that frustrate me as frustration (an emotion of course) can throw me off the wagon quicker than I can eat a french fry. I am a self proclaimed emotional eater you know. I knew this wasn't going to be easy but I still refuse to give up, even if I am only losing and gaining the same 5 pounds right now. I have that down to some sort of crazy food science! For some odd reason, I get a little feeling of control that I have been able to maintain the up and down to only 5 pounds...I call myself, "Practicing for Maintenance"!

I sat down this weekend and started thinking about things. I realized that I keep thinking these HUGE thoughts...I need to lose another 100 pounds! It will take me another 12 months if I start focusing again right now...I need to drop 10 sizes...How will I ever manage with only 19 points!!!!! (Yikes...that one really scares me!). These goals and thoughts I believe seem so hard to achieve that I am driving (eating) myself into the ruts...okay, ditches! I know I am suppose to set small goals, achievable goals, yet I really haven't. I keep looking at the big picture! And let me tell you....It's a Bigggggg Picture! I should just say Mural! This big picture scares me right back to my comfort food...It all seems somewhat overwhelming at times.

So I have committed to setting some small goals. I need some small wins to get back on track. So here are my goals (starting Monday of course...LOL... just joking, I am starting now!)

I will track everything I eat at least 5 of the 7 days this week (I haven't been tracking and I know better. I have proven to myself before that I lose weight when I track)
My next weight loss goal will be for 5 pounds (Not 100! Hey, I just want to raise my hand again in my Weight Watcher meeting and finally get another star! )
I will walk at least 5 of the 7 days this week
I will drink my 64 oz of water every day
I will weigh in on Saturday (Yes, I really needed to make that a goal!)

These are basic and yes they resemble typical Weight Watcher guidelines...Imagine that! I just need to follow them! I already feel better and not so overwhelmed!

I know I am not the only one in this boat (ha, ha, now I am in a boat in my ditch), as this weight loss thing is so hard. But we can and will do this. If you find yourself where I am at, please don't give up...join me, in fact I challenge you to join me in setting some small goals and let's go for it together!

Posted under Challenges, Confessions, Goals | 15 Comments Like this article? Subscribe to our RSS feed

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15 Comments so far

Karen@WaistingTime June 2, 2010 9:47 pm

This cracked me up. (Not that you are in a ditch, but how you describe it.) I have had a similar thing going on for about a month – 4 pounds up and then back down. The up happens much faster than the down. I know I have let slide with some basic things that I should be doing. Sigh.

So as someone who did WW years ago, I am going to challenge you here. Why not track every day?
BrookeNotOnADiet June 3, 2010 6:56 am

Ruts suck. I was in one the whole month of May. I’m sure my new found love of wine had NOTHING to do with it. Hahaha!

Goals are great! I set them weekly and monthly. It’s good to have something to work towards.

I hope you get your 5lb star soon! I want another one too!
Cheryl June 3, 2010 1:52 pm

DARLENE-I am hereby delaring a NAME CHANGE for you!!! All in favor….SAY DAR-LEAN!! Congrats on setting new smaller goals. NOW, here is another challenge…………………..share your tracker with me on SATURDAY!!! YOU Can Do it!!!
Cheryl June 3, 2010 1:54 pm

I need spell-check!!! DECLARE
-D-E-C-L-A-R-E!!!
Debbie June 3, 2010 6:41 pm

Darlene you are not in that ditch alone I’m right there with you!!! January started off with a
bang but once Feb-Mar-Apr-May and June came I’ve been in the ditch and feel like I’ve lost
some of my mojo.

See you Saturday
Debbie
Justme June 3, 2010 7:03 pm

Dar,
Today I got the bad news that I am going on higher doses of Prednisone. This drug makes it very hard for me to lose weight, but I have to take it. I just got back from a ten day vacation where I struggled with family and friends who wanted to make me tons of comfort food. I had to hurt some feelings. That was hard enough, but after my Doctor visit today, I just came home and cried for over an hour. Then I got my computer and checked my email, There you were, my hero, the one who got me to my first WW meeting. I felt like giving up, I had told myself, well I will just quit WW, what’s the use. Then I read your blog, I need to just set goals, Keep Tracking, Go to meetings. I need to read your blogs, old and new, again and again. If I do everything right, and don’t loss weight, I will still be better for it. I need baby Steps, again you have given me hope and put me back on track. You are a very powerful person, you just need to be reminded every now and then.

Love Ya
Island Girl
Cheryl June 3, 2010 8:33 pm

Hey Island Girl, Debbie and DarLEAN…….

CHEERS to all of you for hanging in there……See you Saturday. Take the pedal out of reverse and lets get going……………WE can do this!!! Cheryl
GREAT BLOG!!!
Dar June 3, 2010 8:55 pm

Ugh…you called me out! I guess I was trying to give myself a little room for stumbles…But hey, that is how I got where I am now! My stumbles turn into tumbles! I hate tracking the weekends as they are my downfall, but it is the main place I need to hold myself accountable! Thanks Karen, Challenge accepted! 7 days…I am going for it!
Dar June 3, 2010 8:57 pm

Thanks Brooke for the encouragement! I certainly understand that wine thing…I am trying to convince Weight Watchers it counts as a fruit since it comes from grapes!
Dar June 3, 2010 9:00 pm

LOL…you are too funny Cheryl! Dar-LEAN it is! I will take on your challenge too and share my tracker with you…if I can remember to bring it in
Dar June 3, 2010 9:03 pm

Debbie it is time we get our mojo back! I am ready! Can’t wait for our meeting, I sure need it! Thanks for sharing! See ya Saturday!
Dar June 3, 2010 9:22 pm

Island Girl, thanks so much for the kind comments and I am so glad you read this blog post! You have been doing so well! You are a strong woman…I could have never given up “eating out” like you did! You found ways to exercise (Island hopping) when most people would have not done anything! You have lost lots of weight working obscene hours and you did all of this with your crazy Sicilian Italian self! We can do this….I will see you Saturday!
Dar June 3, 2010 9:23 pm

Cheryl, thanks so much for being the best leader ever! I will see you Saturday…tracker in hand!
Rhonda June 3, 2010 10:22 pm

Just finished reading Women, Food and God by Geneen Roth. Wow, check it out. Love coming to your Saturday meetings but you guys get up way too early. Fridays at 11 am are my regular slot. Track, track, track! I track even when it hurts to track. There are weeks when I don’t even have space to track. But if I don’t, it I feels like I’m out of control. Take back your power, own it.
On the frig I have a quote that I cut out of one of the weekly WW “devotionals”. “If it’s not about hunger, food is not the answer”. I try to at least think about that when I’m getting ready to put something in my mouth. I’m a work in progress…one day at a time.
Keep up the good work.
Debbie June 6, 2010 6:59 pm

Thanks guys for doing the 5K this morning. I’ll be in Florida from Thursday till Sunday so
I’ll see all of you on 19 Jun 10 for “Happy Hour”