I was originally going to put this blog out on Tuesday but I really thought that you would and could relate to it more today since we are starting super bowl weekend. Think before you grab before you eat :). Everything has a result.
THE STRUGGLE IS REAL! First I have to start off by giving compliments and credit to so many who had such amazing weight loss numbers this past week. I was so so happy to hear that last weeks blog “Being Comfortable with being Uncomfortable” helped make a difference. Actions create results and in this case you read the blog and followed it and it worked! I was so beyond thrilled to see the results of it. Thank you! I know how difficult it is to walk away from temptation. But you got to feel and see the amazing results this past weekend by walking away, and embracing the uncomfortable. YAY!!!
EVERYONE HAS WEAK MOMENTS: We all have weak moments. Sometimes they are random, and other times they are specific. You step on the scale mid week and it throws you into sabotage, or you have one glass of wine and it triggers you to have the bottle. It could be at the end of the day at dinner or before bed when you are just so tired from the day and don’t have the same mental strength you had when you woke up. Most of the time weak moments occur right before cheat day. It’s the time of the week where you would think you would be the best but the truth is you are the most mentally and physically exhausted.
FUNNY STORY: A good example is my husband John. Last Saturday night out of the blue he says to me at 8pm – can I start my Cheat Day now? When I gave him a blank look like –is he really asking me this right now?– he went on to explain (as if I never heard this before) — I can start now and go 24hours and end my cheat day Sunday night at 8pm. He was so proud of this new idea! As he was saying it I was visualizing my clients text messages literally being printed in the air as he spoke the words – CAN I SPLIT MY CHEAT DAY AND START RIGHT NOW.— It’s a text that we get minimum 20 times on a the weekend. First I had to break it to him that he wasn’t the first person to think of this amazing idea. Then I explained that this was a moment of weakness that so many clients have at random times and they usually are the day before the cheat day. You made it all week long and now it’s the end of the week and you are tired and hungry and you are just done. You are mentally and physically weak and it’s easy to give in. But I explained it’s the night before cheat day and this is when you have to be your strongest because it’s when all the magic happens from all your hard work all week. You don’t want to throw it all away for a slice of pizza. But he clearly wasn’t feeling the same passion that I was expressing.
I said — I’m sorry but no you can’t do that. You didn’t even weigh in and you won’t have the same results tomorrow if you cheat now. You can wait until tomorrow. I promise you will be happy if you wait–.
Needless to say he wasn’t happy waiting and he wasn’t happy with me or my response at that moment. But I new he was just mentally weak and it was easy to just throw all his hard work away. Instead I walked to the refrigerator and heated him up Innovation meatballs and a spring roll and some string beans. He made it through the night and lucky he did because he ended up having a great weight loss week losing over 2lbs. — he was so beyond happy with his weight loss Sunday morning.
What I did notice that helped a lot was once the meal was heated up and put in front of him he was fine. Because of my crazy schedule John always heats up his own meals. It’s always an Innovation meal and a side. It’s simple, healthy and he loves it. But because he was mentally weak Saturday night and his mind started taking over his thinking he became obsessed with the idea of Pizza. So instead of heating up his dinner he was too busy thinking of a way he could start his cheat day early. But once I saw his mental state and I heated it up and put it in front of him he was totally fine. He was hungry and when he ate he was okay and was able to think more reasonably. If I wasn’t there – who knows what would have happened- probably pizza!. I was super proud of him for staying strong through it and a the same time I realized what so many of you go through. Even the most perfect week it’s so easy to fold in a moment of weakness.
The point of this story is whether it’s food or alcohol – it’s important to not let yourself get to the place where you have no control. The place where you are past the point of thinking clearly. Especially at the end of a day or the end of a week when we are most exhausted, tired and hungry it’s so easy to let our guard down. In the begining of the week you have more mental and physical energy and are more likely to get through the challenges. But at the end of the week when you know you are both mentally and physically exguasted is when you have to be stronger and more on your guard from sabotaging yourself.
THE CONVERSATION OF THE WEEK: The funny thing through all of this which I know so many of your will relate is Sunday John didn’t even want the pizza. In fact, he said he didn’t even want to cheat. He was so excited with his weight loss and he felt so good that he couldn’t even think of what he wanted to cheat with. — The conversation from clients in my office and on text is always
“Why does everything look so good all week long except on Cheat Day?!” During the week you want everything in sight. But when it’s cheat day and you can have it – you don’t want any of it. Why??? The answer is simple – it’s because it’s the mental part of the program that teaches – we always want what we can’t have. But when we can have it we don’t always want it.
I think that goes for a lot of things in life. But when it comes to Cheat Day sometimes just knowing that you CAN have it is enough. So next time you have the mental challenge and you feel a little weak minded – before you cheat ask yourself if it was cheat day would I eat this or do I just want it because I can’t have it.? The answer might help you get through your next moment of weakness.
The struggle you feel today develops the strength you need for tomorrow
~Love to Live Healthy with Josephine Fitzpatrick
