Going the Distance

Weight loss takes time. We all know this, at least in our heads. Emotionally, though, we sometimes a struggle with this fact. We live in a "want it now!" era, in which hucksters promise quick (though not particularly lasting) weight loss, sometimes with little or no effort. (Yeah, right.)

What does it take to go the distance? To do what needs to be done, and to wait, sometimes years, for results?

Let me toot my own horn a little bit . . . this past weekend, I biked 110 miles. It was the first time I'd ever done that many miles in 2 days, and the first time I'd ever biked more miles the second day, than the first. The day after, I felt perfectly fine (though my butt would have been happier if I'd used a little Chamois Butt'r). Both the Civil War Century and the Indian Head Hundred were rolling to downright hilly, with several rather nasty hills.

So what, you say? Well, almost exactly seven years ago, I climbed on a brand-new Raleigh C30 "comfort" bicycle, attempted to bike 4 miles, and had to quit. I nearly puked, and was convinced that my stomach distress meant I was having a heart attack. I was nearly 220 pounds, and grossly out of shape.

So, what got me from "then" to "now?" Well, I didn't give up, obviously. Even though my first ride was inauspicious, to say the least, I kept at it. At first, even 6 miles would take a toll on me. I remember biking down the sidewalk, thinking "I'm not scared; I won't have a heart attack," and mostly believing it. At the time, I was still at my top weight: you might say I was a 215-pound Fat Bottomed Girl. I would not join Weight Watchers for about two more years. So, yeah, I was hauling around a load. My bike was a heavy clunker, and so was I. I was able to lengthen my mileage only very gradually during those early biking days, but I eventually worked up to being able to do 30 miles or more.

Somehow, by the time I joined Weight Watchers (January 2002), I had come to the realization that I would need to change my eating habits permanently. Maybe it was the gradual progress I'd made with my bicycling, or maybe it was just awareness that my health was hanging in the balance. How I finally arrived at that place I actually can't really remember, but I do know that the "life change" idea sustained me through many days.

I had a pretty positive experience with WW, though my initial idea was that I would lose ALL my weight in 9 months! I was able to eat what I wanted (not as much as I wanted, of course) and the pounds came off fairly quickly, at first. Making it to goal, though, took me about two-and-a-half years. Long story short, I eventually reached a point where I was (mostly) content to just do my thing, and let my body do its thing. I did have my off days, and my frustrating days, of course . . . but on balance, I just stuck to the program, day after day after day.

So, here I am, 7 years (bike) and 4.5 years (WW) at a place I probably never thought I would be, if you'd asked me, oh, 8 years ago: fit, strong, slim. To me, this speaks to the enormous power of just doing things one day at a time, and being patient -- a trait that I'm otherwise not always known for!

So, some parting thoughts for you: what does it mean to YOU to "go the distance?" How has the journey been for you, so far? Did you have to clear away a lot of (mental) obstacles? What does the road ahead look like to you?

Remember, you just have to do this one day at a time. Tomorrow will take care of itself, once you get there. And, once a hundred, five hundred, a thousand "tomorrows" have passed, you may find yourself in a (good) place you never thought you'd be!

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Comments

[Another weight Watchers supporter]

I like your idea of "going the distance". Although I have never had much of a weight problem I was a little lazy for years until one day I thought I would ride my bike to work. Now, 3 years later, this riding to work is a part of my persona and people know me as the guy that will ride even when it gets quite cold.

I believe that when you decide that you are going to make a change that once internalized and a part of you it is very hard to make that change. I am always letting people know that in making changes it is just as easy to make a change for the good as it is to make a change for the bad.

[Laurie]

Thank you for your thoughts. It was the perfect thing to read today- after I just posted an "I want it now" type blog entry. You're right on the money. I'll be patient!

[Tena]

I just stumbled upon your blog and I'm really glad I did. I have just started riding again mostly to lose weight (need to lose about 80 lbs) and somedays it seems it will take for-ever! Must be patient! Thanks for your words of wisdom.

[Jeff Pitts]

I am also on a 100 weight loss journey. It's been 2 weeks and minus 8 lbs. I am determined to keep going. But Thanksgiving is worrying me.

[Debbie]

Hi, Jeff,

Remember, Thanksgiving is one day. (It's a holi-day, not a holi-week!) If your food plan allows it, have a little extra food for your holiday meal, and be sure to have some of your very favorite foods. Earlier in the day, get some extra activity in. Go walk a couple of miles, for example. The rest of the week, do the same, and go back to your regular food plan immediately after your holiday meal.

No one meal, no one day will spoil things, if you just remember that this is a lifetime journey, and that "good enough," rather than perfection, will do quite nicely!