I read an insightful article today by the author of "The Relief of Imperfection" by Joan Webb. It was thought provoking.
If you entered my home the last thing word that would come to your mind is "perfectionist." Yet, this really struck a chord with me, "Yesterday a young woman admitted to me that she was often "mean" to herself. That morning her internal bully-- the one in charge of exercise and diet--berated her for sleeping in and missing one single workout: You jerk! Can't you do anything right? This was supposed to motivate her. It didn't. Perhaps you, too, have noticed that such rigid expectations are actually self defeating." In Touch May 2009 p. 14
How many times have I done this to myself? Setting my expectations so high that they are nearly impossible to reach. By the end of the day, I find myself wallowing in defeat and frozen in my self-berating tracks.
So what will I change? I am going to stop weighing myself- for now. Expecting my body to respond perfectly to my diet and exercise is causing me distress.
I'm running like a fiend and eating well, but the number on the blasted scale isn't changing. This makes me want to run to the store and buy my favorite chocolate covered Russian cookies and shove them all in my mouth.
The truth is I am feeling better both emotionally and physically, so I am going to ignore the scale and my ideas of perfection (losing 2 pounds a week), keep running and eating well and trust the Lord to change me in His good time.
7 comments:
Amen.
I like how you looked at what is positive with your running and eating healthy and how it makes you feel. Instead of looking at what's not happening.
Thanks, I too get frustrated with my 1/8 of pound loss sometimes or when I have done really good and gain 1 pound. So I will focus on how much better I feel and I'm fitting in some of my old pants and they are loose.
Love you! Fight to the death! :)
Love Mom
I felt exactly the same after the boys were born. I tried and tried and NOTHING! Then, I just pressed on and decided not to obsess over. I prayed. God give me contentment in the things I cannot control. He did! And the weight came off.
Remember you have made SO MUCH progress so far!!!
One of the best things the PRISM program did was teach you not to weight except every six weeks. That in and of its self was a discipline. The thing that always helps me the most is writing down everything I eat and counting the calories. Drink Water. And everytime the negative voice says something, turn it around and make it a positive statement. I'm proud of you for trying to be healthy, that is the best gift to all of us because we all love you and you inspire us to want to be healthy too. Love, Mom
Becca,
Remember too that with all your working out, you are gaining muscle. If you are exchanging fat for muscle, wonderful. A scale wont tell you this, only the way you feel and the way your clothes fit. Keep up the good work.
Love,
Dad
Thanks everybody! You are all so right and I am going to just do the right things, exercise, drink water, eat right and pray!
I love you.
Drink water and drink water! I agree with Lee. I really don't understand why it makes such a big difference but it really does. Not just for weight loss but for our health. It's a conscience choice to drink enough water but it makes such a difference.
Thought I would say I second that! Water is good.
It was great to talk to you tonight! You look beautiful!
Love you Mom
Thank you for sharing the article, Becca! I know I have struggled with an "inner bully" who demanded nothing less than perfection. It's a very good way of describing the negative self-talk to which we so often subject ourselves--all the while thinking that we're the only one with that little bully on the inside--making us feel lonely and isolating ourselves from the truth.
From beginning to understand this bully, we can now expose her for what she is and help others identify their bullies.
Keep telling yourself TRUE, LOVING words, and the "bully" will have to run and hide. :)
Post a Comment