When I biked home yesterday, I was challenged. The uphill grade of the ride, the relatively cold weather (this is Texas, come on), the wind which always seemed to be in my face. My quads burned, the traffic irked, and I thought to myself, I don’t seem to be making much progress. I felt utterly exhausted when I got home, despite the fact that I have been doing this exact same bicycle ride 2 – 3 times per week for something like a month and a half.
This was a recipe for a case of the blahs. Also, today I am hungrier today than usual. I feel bored and tired and uninterested in just about everything. I hate this state of being.
I am fortunate that I am mostly on autopilot with my weight-loss routine at the moment, because if I weren’t, this would be exactly the circumstance in which I’d make food and exercise mistakes that would land me right back at square one, if not heavier. But because I am in some ways on weight-loss cruise control, when the blahs hit, I still keep doing my thing, albeit possibly with less enthusiasm.
When I talk about autopilot and cruise control, I don’t mean to imply that I think I will easily coast to my goal weight doing exactly what I am doing right now; in fact, I am mentally preparing myself to try out different exercise options and change a few aspects of my eating habits. However, the holiday season, for me, is stressful enough. If I can reach my New Year’s goal of 175 lbs while staying on weight-loss-plan autopilot, I will be really happy.
4. December 2009 at 2:47 PM
Thank goodness for the autopilot sometimes, eh? The bad news is some weeks it’s just HARDER. For no reason. At all. You’re doing all the right things, getting sleep, eating well, feeling fine physically, but mentally? BLECH. The good news is that it’s not every week. As long as you slog through it.
It’s definitely something I learned training for the half marathon. Some runs are exhilarating. Some runs are excruciating. Some start out good and you end up limping home early. Some you barely get out the door and you come back feeling great. Some you just put in the time and it’s so so. But once you get to the starting line – no, once you get to about mile 8, you’re glad you put in every one of those miles no matter how awesome or terrible they were.
4. December 2009 at 3:02 PM
It may have been a difficult ride, but you finished it, right? Nothing wrong with being on auto pilot sometimes as long as you still reach your destination.
4. December 2009 at 4:45 PM
Totally with you on the autopilot — just go through the motions until it feels good again. I haven’t felt like cooking all week, so I just told myself for every meal, choose a protein, and a fruit or vegetable. The end. Some weeks I’m all amped and feeling badass. Some are just blah.
5. December 2009 at 10:04 AM
Just found your blog, and read your About Me! I am kind of excited because I started my weight loss journey on the same ideas – eat whatever you want – as long as its within calorie range. :) Honestly, it is the only way I could have started this out. Congrats on your 20lbs gone! I am so impressed! :)
5. December 2009 at 11:05 PM
I’ve never heard someone refer to the strength and courage to stick to their plan as ‘autopilot’ before. ;) You seem to be doing great (I need to read your blog from start to present…and I will!) and I’m glad you’re sticking to your guns even though you were having an off day. Sometimes we forget that comparing ourselves to others isn’t the only way to throw a wrench in our progress. Sometimes we have a tendency to compare ourselves to ourselves without considering the variables. I, too am guilty of this mindset. Every day bring with it a set of challenges. We’ve got to stay present and stay on track.
7. December 2009 at 10:21 AM
I think hanging in there when things get tough is really hard! I hate when, for no reason at all, the same amount of effort all of a sudden is not producing the same results. It’s so hard not to say “the heck with it” and give up!
I think it’s awesome that you’re sticking with it through the “blahs.” They’ll probably go away again as mysteriously as they came.