My own trainer and I were talking about realistic expectations today as we were doing my leg workout. It’s amazing how much stuff we talk about standing around two to three minutes between sets. What a far cry from my leaning out workouts just a short while ago when I didn’t rest at all!!! Anywhooo…
So he was warning me today to not get thrown by the scale when my weight goes up. Over the next few months my weight is going to change wildly as my body retains water, puts on muscle, a little fat (you have to put on a tad bit of fat when you are building out), and has normal TOMs, etc. We were commenting on how this will be very challenging for a girl who still suffers from Fat Girl Thinking occassionally. I told him I was actually going to send the scale to Chris’ office for the next two months and just refuse to weigh in. I’ll go by measurements and clothes. I want to focus on doing this right and not allow my mind to convince me of any different.
He then went on and told me that over the next year my body will change quite a bit but the real change will be in five years. For the first time since I started this journey someone actually told me that the body of my dreams was achievable. I just have to be patient and willing to work on it for a few years to see it through all the stages of bulking, leaning, and sculpting out the areas I want to shape. You know what? It didn’t scare me one bit and I didn’t even blink when he said five years! I smiled, teared up, and said I really believe it.
Do you know why I believe it? Look at my pictures from the past three years. Each year of my fat loss journey my body looks completely different as my goals have changed and I have worked harder than ever. I told Bill, “People ask me all the time how long did it take you to reach goal? From now on I’m going to tell them I’m still trying to get there.”
You need to have the same mindset. Don’t get caught up in how long will it take me to lose X amount of pounds. Think in terms of making decisions that get you closer to the body you want. Keep goals in front of you that define what you want to be…and honey, you aren’t a size 6 or a number on that scale. You are a beautiful work in constant progress and each decision you make either gets you closer or takes you further away.
So, I say bring on five years. Bring on ten years. Heck, I intend to enjoy the ride and I don’t care how long it takes. I do know one thing, the body of my dreams is achievable even if it means having quadzilla legs to fill up this loose skin. That’s cool. I’ll be able to crack walnuts at Christmas! Nothing like party tricks. 