I'm back! My first video in months and I had technical difficulties that cut it off. An alarm went off on my phone and I thought it was still filming, but it turns out it wasn't. I'm just going to leave it as it is and write about the things I was in the middle of saying, but didn't end up catching on film.
A short recap of the video:
I have not abandoned my WFPB lifestyle endeavor, but I have had many ups and downs in that endeavor over the past few months and particularly the past few days. I made a "healthy wage" at the beginning of September where I bet I could lose 50 pounds in 10 months. I pay money every month until then. If I reach my goal, I get my money back PLUS I get a big prize. I was hoping that wage would massively motivate me, but it only worked for about a week! I have been binge-eating at night the past few days, always with the intention to "start over and be perfect" the next day. Well...the addiction is real. The struggle is real. It's hard to keep believing in myself when I get into this cycle, but the only thing I can do is KEEP TRYING! I am determined to turn things around TODAY so this video is my recommitment to my own personal food plan. I will be reporting every day this week, and I'm also committing to post on my blog at least once a week, although it won't necessarily be with a video.
Now for what I was in the middle of saying when my camera shut off. I was talking about Heather from "The Butterfly Effect Plant-Based Weight Loss" YouTube channel. This is a woman who has lost almost 300 POUNDS. She is 9 pounds away from her goal weight and a 300-pound loss. Wow! Can you imagine?! As I was walking on the treadmill this morning, I watched the first video she made, and then I watched the video she made about a year ago after she had lost almost 200 pounds and went through a relapse, and then I watched her most recent video. I could really relate to her feelings of despair, embarrassment, discouragement, and fear when she talked about her relapse and the large quantity of weight she gained back during it. BUT, she didn't let that relapse go on forever. It didn't defeat her for good. She spoke honestly about what happened, recommitted, asked her community for help, and tried again. Now she is 148 pounds, 9 pounds away from her goal. Wow! This inspired me. Last night, I was feeling a lot of despair and disappointment in myself and feeling that it was hopeless to try to change, but it's not. I knew that even before watching Heather's videos. I had already recommitted and made a new plan for myself, but Heather's story just confirmed and strengthened my resolve to keep trying and not give up. THIS IS LIFE. We keep trying to improve ourselves, we fall, we get back up, and we try again and again and again. I am going to be making a video down the road that shows that this relapse (or maybe I should say series of relapses) did not stop me from reaching my goal. I can't wait for that video!
A few links related to things I mentioned in my video:
Evening Visualization MP3 from John Gabriel.
Learn more about making a Healthy Wage. I'm still not sure this was the smartest thing I did, but it's too late to go back now!
Hi friend! Glad you are back with a plan! I know you won't like my suggestions so kick em to the curb if you want. I'd say no to all flour for a period of time. Flour of all kinds spike your insulin and cause cravings. Just try it for 30 days and see how your cravings change. I wouldn't do a free day - maybe a cheat meal that is written down and has a start and an end - but not a free day. It could sabotage your entire weeks success and get so hard to get back on the wagon. Some good books I like are Fat Chance, Will Power, The Calorie Myth, Rising Strong, Untethered Soul and Bright Line Eating - she talks a lot about how we negotiate like you did with the ice cream and instead of having a plan for the free day it just happens. Maybe you'll make one half of a day free and another 1/2 day free and it goes on and on. Tell yourself you can have that icecream tomorrow and then when tomorrow comes tell yourself the same thing. It appeases your brain. I love telling myself I'm not a garbage can. Let Kayla throw away the icecream! It's OK : ) I'll email you later but I wanted to chime in. I know you aren't looking for advice but I gave it anyway. Hope you know I love and adore you and support you however you need support. We all need to make our own plan that works and I'm still navigating what is working for me and what isn't. I'm 30 days free of all animal protein but am still trying to figure it out. Anyway, we'll talk later! You make the Health Wage people pay you! You can do it!
ReplyDeleteHi Cherilyn, thanks so much for your comments and support! Yes, I know how you feel about flour. I've read many of those books, still listen to Susan, and understand the philosophy completely. In spite of that, I'm not personally convinced that it is necessary for me to give up ALL flour products. Maybe one day I will be. :) I know from my own experience which products get me into trouble and as long as I don't eat those, I'm fine. When I make exceptions to those certain products, I have trouble. And yes, whole wheat bread by the slice is a trouble food for me, so it's not part of my plan at all. Like I said, maybe I'll feel differently one day.
ReplyDeleteAlso, in no way am I planning to have a "cheat day," so maybe I wasn't clear about that in my video. I know how quickly a cheat day turns into a cheat week and how hard it is to get back on plan. I was giving myself a one-time a week treat allowance a weak, not a whole day. I've done this in the past with success (years ago), but maybe I can't do it anymore. We'll see. If I discover that it is a problem, I'll change the plan. I've been watching a lot of the "Never Binge Again" videos, so they are influencing my decisions to some extent right now.
Yes, I tell myself I'm not a garbage disposal too, and 95% of the time I throw away the kids' left-over treats, but there are moments when my "spirit is willing but the flesh is weak"!
You are a rock star! Way to go on 30 days without animal products. That is really amazing with all the other restrictions you follow! You are really great at sticking to whatever you set out to do and that is very admirable!
Yes, I'm planning to make those Healthy Wage people pay! :)