Tuesday February 14, 2012; DAY 99; 8:41AM: Well to follow up with my last post; in spite of me basically putting my body into starvation mode due to our family emergency; I still managed a loss of 1.6 pounds. I have lost a total of 46.6 pounds in 98 days and currently sit at 228.4 pounds. I AM ECSTATIC!!!
Obviously Fat Camp (Aultman Weight Loss Center) has taught me a ton (no pun intended here), but it amazes me how much I continue to learn from this incredible experience. I think the lesson I take away from last week is two-fold.
One, and most important, is that numbers only really are a PART of the experience. After all, I started the journey to live up to what my wife had done so well on her own, and that I didn't have the will power to do without the accountability that the program and this blog provide me. When the trip to the hospital happened, it brought things back into perspective for me. As I began to lose, I became obsessed with numbers and not so much the learning process that is attributed to the long term sustainability of the program. Heading to weigh in yesterday afternoon, I have never been so unconcerned with the scale would say because I was simply happy that my wife was home, healthy, and unscathed from the experience (so I don't scare anyone, she was eventually diagnosed with TIA, or transient stroke, no trace evidence left in any of the tests, full recovery on site, and prognosis for long term is incredibly positive and easily managed). So quick shout out to Aultman hospital EMTs, nurses, ER Doctors, and Neurologists for being so very good at what they do, so patient and willing to address any and all of our concerns, and so very thorough when taking measures to address both symptoms, and long term health. But to get back on track with my original train of thought, the digression is meant to illustrate how much more I realize that overall health and wellness is far more important than any number on a scale I read every Monday when I weigh in with dietitians and techs at what has become such an enjoyable experience for me personally to be able to share with like minded people going through the exact same progress driven successes and plateaus that I am, and continue to inspire me to march forward.
The second, and your "not such a revelation" moment for this week is more simple than most, which would explain why the seven layers of concrete located north of my neck has had such difficulty in grasping the concept. It is this: THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTION FOR STICKING TO THE PROGRAM!!! I mean it sounds simple enough but the reason I am able to lose even a modest amount like I did this week (albeit in a high stress environment) is because I didn't cut corners with adherence to the types of foods I am allotted on the program. Not being able to work out and not getting enough calories or water into my system halted to some extent the loss, but I did not allow for a gain because as a stress eater, I typically would have grabbed for any and all comfort foods with a dismissive attitude. Once again my progress, while to some extent circumstances were out of my hands, was dictated by my willingness to control what I could and stay dedicated to the goals at hand.
I think at the end of the day, baptism by fire through the holidays, tough environments like the scenarios in Virginia, and even family emergencies such as last weekend, I've learned the greatest two lessons of all. One, there is no legitimate excuse to allow myself the opportunity to fall back into bad habits that landed me in fat camp (Aultman Weight Loss Program) to begin with. AND, finally, be thankful for the progress in knowledge, health and wellness, numbers, and the realization of what is truly important in life; your family and loved ones unconditonal love and support.
Cheesy way to end I know, but hey it is Valentine's Day. Happy Valentine's Day to all, and to all a healthy bite,...yeah okay, that was too much.
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