Good Results, but Keeping it Real

Good results for me this week, I lost more than 1lb last week to total 22lbs lost which finally brought me under 10st which is a big milestone for me. I also lost noticeable amounts around my waist and tummy and I am now able to comfortably wear my last pair of trousers that were previously too tight. I'm now in new territory. That the good news!

Now the reality! I've been here before. About 4 years ago I lost around a stone to get me to 10st and I went out and bought a whole bunch of new clothes which I am now wearing again. The trouble is that at the time I was so pleased with my new look that I was no longer dissatisfied enough to carry on - so I slacked off. Over the last few years the weight crept back on and brought another 7lbs with it.

This time it's different. I have been focussing really hard on what I want my *ultimate* goal to be. Yes I'm pleased that I'm thinner now and that I can wear some of my nice clothes again and its nice when friends that I've not seen for a while say "oh you've lost weight!" but I'm not yet where I want to be - far from it. Its easy to get disollusioned with good results while we're on the journey but we need to keep our eye on the ultimate goal or its too easy to slack off.

One thing that is really odd is that every few months I take some "fat photos" from several different angles. I compared the ones from today to the ones from a year ago before I started my current programme and when I was 22lbs heavier. I can see the difference in my face and neck immediately but the rest of my body looks exactly the same! I know that cannot be because inches have gone but my basic body shape is identical. The same football-belly and backside! I'm just becoming a smaller version of my fat self! And that is better than the big version, but not good enough. I'm looking for a total body tranformation - a change in shape.

So now I'm in a position where I can celebrate my results so far and yet look at the photos for a reality check. Good work but keep it up. I'll think of those photos when I hit the gym tomorrow morning.

Moral of the ramble - don't let partial results allow you to slack off. Keep going all the way.