I'm Not Giving Up on Weight Loss

Last week was another attempt at running. Initially, I wanted to make it five minutes like I had done two weeks ago. Instead of trying to sprint the whole five minutes, I slowed down my pace to a very reasonable 12-minute mile on the treadmill. When I realized if I ran six minutes I would be running half a mile, I challenged myself to six minutes.

Six minutes came and went, and I still felt good. I decided to go for 10 minutes. Around minute nine, I started to get tired but decided that if I was going to run 10 minutes, what's two more minutes to make it to a mile?

Well, they were a two tough minutes, but I did it! I ran a mile! Success! Progress! I sent text messages to my husband and friends. As excited as I was after I finished that mile, you would have thought I won the lottery or done something really impressive. Nope, I just ran a mile.

But for me, it was more than just running a mile. Accomplishing the mile meant I had met another goal in my journey. It meant that I am one mile down toward my long-term goal. And, most importantly, it meant that no matter how hard it was, I kept trying until I received the outcome I so desperately wanted.

Another thing I would love to accomplish is to stop losing and gaining the same five pounds. I realize that my birthday weight loss goal is not realistic at this point, but I am thankful that I've been following some very healthy habits.

I was proud of myself for not overeating after working out this week. I did a much better job of spacing out my snacks during the day, and I was able to choose meals that would keep me full longer. Something that I've learned in this process is that I can eat and never feel full when I stuff myself with mindless calories such as potato chips, French fries, cookies and other foods that lack nutritional value. It amazes me how much less food my body needs when I fuel it on healthy foods.

I am hoping that all of these pieces will finally start to add up to losing weight. I have quite a bit to go and would really like to start seeing more loss on the scale as well as more lost inches. I know I have to be patient. I didn't gain this weight overnight, and I can't expect to lose it in a day; however, I am ready to start seeing some substantial results.

About this time is when I typically give up on my weight loss because I am tired of working so hard and not seeing the results I want to see. It can be so frustrating to feel like you are doing all the right things but not reaping the reward.

I have spent too many years overweight, and I have given up on myself too many times. This time, I refuse to fail myself by quitting. Quitting would be the easy thing to do, so it's a good thing I like a challenge! While my "be overweight, not obese by my birthday original goal" was a bit of a stretch, I think it is completely reasonable, manageable and healthy to start a bit smaller and lose 10 pounds to be at or under 207 pounds by the end of November.

I have spent weeks laying the ground work and taking small steps here and there. It would be insane to keep doing the same thing and expect different results, so it is time to finally step up my efforts so that I can start meeting my weight loss and fitness goals. I know that I sound repetitive. I often reread my blogs, and even I think, how many times can you "commit to your goals" or "get serious" about weight loss before everything clicks and all of a sudden you are leading a healthy life, not just trying to be healthier? I don't know, but I am going to find out!

More on Tipping the Scales:
Feeling Like the Fattest Friend
Starting Over on My Halloween Weight Loss Challenge
Running and Random Acts of Kindness

After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That's Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move toward a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes and challenges as they tip the scale.