Weight Loss Wednesday: You're My Inspiration

Cades Cove - GSMNP

March 4, 2013

I considered subtitling this post "what do you do when boredom strikes," but changed my mind.   That, however, doesn't change the fact.  I admit it.  I am bored with the whole healthy eating thing right now.  I've been at it faithfully (and successfully, I might add) for 16 months this time around.  I found a plan that worked for me and that would be sustainable for a lifetime.  I worked the plan and lost the pounds I had regained from my original weight loss of 65 pounds.  And I have more or less been maintaining that since last summer.  

I know the signs and I know what has happened in the past.  Thankfully, I feel much stronger and somewhat wiser now.  That is reflective even in the fact that this is up for discussion BEFORE I have regained any weight.  But I find myself playing the mental games like 1) just relax for awhile and don't think about it, or 2) you've been so disciplined - it's o.k. to eat some of those things that are known trigger foods, or 3) this is just too hard, just don't worry about it anymore.  A willingness to let down my guard and "relax" for awhile is what has put me into oblivion in the past and I've awakened 30-40 pounds later to realize that "relaxing" really didn't work.  

None of the above are going to happen this time.  I feel strong and in control, but nonetheless, I am bored with food, planning, thinking about it, etc.  Heck, I'm even bored with EATING it!  So I'm looking for inspiration in places OTHER than the grocery store.  Probably no surprise that I would turn immediately to my friends in BlogLand.   As I thought about this and reflected on how grateful I am to be a part of this community, I was also reminded of some very unique ways that other bloggers have become an inspiration to me.

Many years ago, I was loved and mentored by an older woman with whom I worked.  She once told me that it was important to have a small inner circle of trusted friends to whom you were accountable.  In addition to those friends, she always talked about the importance of forming friendships with a wide variety of other people that were very different from me.  In other words, a friend who was much older, much younger, of a different race, complete opposite politically or of different religious beliefs.  Perhaps, someone from a culture that made me slightly uncomfortable, a friend of the opposite sex, a stay-at-home mom (since I was an embarrassingly aggressive career woman at the time), a child, etc.  You get the point!  I've never forgotten that and found it wonderful advice that has brought me friendships I'd never have imagined.  

What does all that have to do with finding inspiration when I'm bored with my healthy eating journey?  I'm so glad you asked!   That advice from long ago has come back to encourage me once again and I find myself looking at the faces behind the blogs I enjoy so much and it is there I find the inspiration that I need to keep on keeping on.  Here's what I mean...............

What would I do without the friends in BlogLand who are already maintaining, have kept off their weight for years and are bold enough to continue writing about their maintenance successes as well as their maintenance struggles?  

Five of those friends have just launched a new team effort called, AIM - Adventure In Maintenance.  Four of these women have been blog friends of mine for quite some time and the fifth I'm getting to know by reading her story from its inception.  You think that's not inspiring....well, think again.  If you aren't friends with these women, get acquainted with them now and be inspired.  Between the five of them, they have lost and maintained more than 500 pounds.

Cammy @ Tippy Toe Diet

Debby @ Debby Weighs In

Lori @ Finding Radiance

Lynn @ Lynn's Weigh

Shelley@ My Journey To Fit

This list certainly isn't exhaustive.  Many other maintainers "inspire" me with their words!

And then there is inspiration of a totally different sort.  Very recently, two young women from my church have become bloggers.  One is a newlywed, the other a young mother pursuing a degree in music.  Neither have any problems with weight and most likely never have.  But both are an inspiration to me simply in their commitment to the things that are important to them.  Bethany is a vegetarian and is highly committed to keeping her meals interesting and exciting despite the rigorous schedule of a full-time student with a five-year old daughter and a husband who is also a full-time student.  She does NOT become "bored" with it!  Courtney follows no set eating plan of which I am aware, but I've known her and her family for many years, shared many meals with them and I can assure you that she keeps her trim figure by not overeating and practicing proper portion control.  They are both on a completely different plane of living than I am right now, but both are an inspiration to me in my efforts to maintain my weight.  (Here are links to both blogs.  Since neither are weight loss related, not likely you'll want to follow them permanently, but if you want to see two beautiful women both inside and out, take a peek!)

Bethany @ Little Brunette

Courtney @ Always Wright

I could go on and on listing people and places where I find inspiration.  What I hope you'll take from this post is that when boredom strikes (and it will), that's the time to be creative.  Look for inspiration in the most unlikely places.  Look for it in the unfamiliar.  Look for it hiding underneath something uncomfortable.  Look for it in your fears.  Look for it in nature.  Look for it in music.  Just LOOK!

Guess what??   I'm no longer bored with the healthy eating journey.  

Think I'll plan some menus now!

From whom, what or where do you find inspiration when boredom strikes?