Day 489 Happy Tears From Bobbi and Come What May-I Will Not Be Broken

Day 489

Happy Tears From Bobbi and Come What May-I Will Not Be Broken

I have many friends that are on this weight loss road. Just as I send out my weigh day updates, they too send me their weigh-in results. I started my Saturday morning by finding an e-mail from someone I didn't know was reading this blog until just a few weeks ago. Turns out she's been reading for some time, and when she started she went back in the archives and read every single entry. I don't have any way of knowing who's reading and what they've read, let alone what they're getting out of these writings. I just share what I'm experiencing—put it out there in a raw and honest form, and I learn about myself in the process.

This blog has been and continues to be therapy for me. It may not be perfect, but it has empowered me, enlightened me, given me strength and hope to carry on each and every day. And when I start my day by reading an e-mail like the one below, it makes it all the more special to me. Bobbi doesn't blog publicly. She keeps a private diary everyday along her weight loss journey and she reads. She reads my blog and many others. If you're a fellow weight loss blogger, she may have read yours too. She's given me permission to share this:

Sean, I weighed today and I'm down another five pounds! I just stepped on the scale and started crying because it's never worked for me. I'm so happy. For the first time in my life I'm losing weight (47 pounds so far---over 100 to go). Thank you for showing me that it doesn't have to be hard. I read you everyday and more often than not, your blog hits me right between the eyes. I've even had my husband read your blog and he's starting to understand that he could do this too. I know you've told me that it's all me doing this, and I understand what you're saying, but I hope you know what an inspiration you've been . I started reading from day one and couldn't stop. Thank you for sharing your story. ---Bobbi and David in New York.

Bobbi, I know you reluctantly gave me permission to print that, but your success inspires others too. Your transformation continues to be and will always be something that deserves your pride. And oh by the way---it's all you! Your e-mail this morning gave me strength and inspiration. Thank you!

When I'm not feeling 100%, I just have to read e-mails and comments like that—-and it makes me realize how important it is to power through emotions and circumstances with unbreakable resolve. I've really had to put up my steel curtain zone a bunch lately. The stress and emotion that I'm experiencing of late is trying it's best to break me. Not smoking makes me feel incredible, but I've just now noticed how much I relied on those nasty things to calm my nerves and help me cope. I can't give in, I can't give up---I'm a non-smoker, I'm a non-smoker. I have to continuously say that. Quitting smoking, in my opinion, is ten times harder than what I've done with weight loss. I can eat food in a healthy and responsible way, I can't smoke in a healthy and responsible way. They're different animals for sure—-but the mental power to stay focused is identical to this weight loss road—I mustn't forget.

I started the day preparing omelets for everybody. I love making them and everyone loves eating them, well, most everyone. The calorie value is so wonderful in an egg white omelet, it's a hard habit to not over do. I must make an effort to eat more steel cut oats of a morning! Out of ten days, I probably eat the oats once or twice. I'm a creature of habit I guess. Aren't we all?

I spent fifty calories on gum today and over a hundred on coffee creamer. Hmmm. I even enjoyed a half a cup of natural orange juice. The juice was really sweet and good, I wish it wasn't so calorie dense. But it's good for me right? I know it is, so I'm cool with that. And since Melissa upped my calorie to 1800, I have a little more room for this kind of thing. I have struggled a few days to hit the 1800. I was so comfortable with my 1500 calorie pace, I sometimes find myself hunting for more calories late. That may not be what Melissa intended me to do. I need to watch that. I need to add those extra calories throughout the day, preferably an hour after a good workout, maybe some right before. I must make sure this extra “fuel” is being used most efficiently.

My sleep schedule has always been in need of improvement. It's always been an issue along this road...and it remains. We don't have to re-hash how important proper rest is to this journey---it's understood. The body needs rest to renew itself. The body needs rest to run at optimum levels and work as efficiently as possible. I get that. I do. But still I struggle with that element. You know what it is don't you? It's self-discipline. If I applied the same level of importance to my sleep schedule as I do my calorie budget---we wouldn't be talking about this issue. Importance level...where is my importance level on sleep? Obviously not high enough. I continue to work on that.

My workout today was good. Not great. I planned on doing it with Amber, but our schedules just didn't mesh. Amber is awesome and I can't wait to show her what I've learned in the strength training exercise department. I love how a good non-cardio workout still gets the heart to pumping. Working the muscles still gets me pumped and my heart working, it's very noticeable. I've had to lay off some things temporarily because I hurt my elbow of my left arm. I don't know if I hyper-extended it or what, but it has really hurt the last few days. I'm happy to report it's feeling so much better now. Melissa showed me proper technique/form to make sure I don't do that again! I'm such a novice in the strength training arena and that stuff can be dangerous. My advice? Listen to people that know better and follow their instructions!! That's what I'm doing.

I sincerely appreciate you reading and offering your support. This post marks my 500th. I know it's only Day 489, but several times along the way I posted seperate blogs for videos and pictures. 500, that's a bunch, I'm proud. This journey rolls on everyday and the best is yet to come. Wow...that's exciting, because it's been really incredible so far. Goodnight and...

Good Choices,
Sean