Guilt

Guilt: That feeling of knowing you should be doing one thing but wanting to do the other.

I often deal with feelings of guilt in many aspects of my maintenance journey.  Sometimes that feeling of guilt is due to exercise, or rather lack thereof.  Skipping a workout can be tough, especially when you are injured or when you have a headcold.  It makes me feel guilty like I should be doing something even if my body is telling me I need to rest.

I also feel guilty when I skip my workout when I am tired and feeling low of energy.  I know that if I can just push through a few minutes that I might feel better, but sometimes I just don’t have it in me.  Working dayshift means my days start at 4am.  There isn’t much energy left by the end of my 10 hour work shift and skipping my workout sounds good.  It also makes me feel guilty.

There is also the guilt I feel when I know I should be exercising and have no better excuse other then I just don’t want to or I am just not feeling in the mood.  This makes me feel guilty since I know I really should be doing something and I don’t have a single reason not to.

Guilt will set in from time to time so learning to shush that voice, epically in times of injury or when you just need extra sleep is also important.  Exercise is important but so is rest.  Take it when you need it: guilt free.

There is always tomorrow

My Surprise Encounter Last Monday

I attended a Monday morning WW meeting last week since we were out of town for my usual Tuesday morning meeting.  This was a new group to me, however, a few faces looked familiar since I know I have attended that meeting a time or two in the past.  It is also quite a large meeting and since I didn’t really know anybody, I shared about my weight loss as it was relevant to the topic.

After the meeting ended, a woman sitting just outside the meeting room called me by my name and then smiled at me.  I didn’t even notice her sitting in the meeting room.  I am not sure that I would have even given it a second thought had she not said something.  I am not even sure what I said to make her remember who I was.

Despite being fuller in the face I knew who she was.  It was Lynn, my very first WW leader. 

I think about Lynn often and was ecstatic to give her a giant hug.  It was so good to see her.  I asked her how she has been doing and she responded with, “well, I’m fat.”

I never really know how to respond when a WW member, new or old, makes comments like that.  We have all been there a time or two and I am nothing but understanding and sympathetic.  Weight loss and maintenance are both equally tough!  However, we are often much harder on ourselves then necessary.

Sure, I noticed she was fuller in the face then the last time I saw her.  I also know she was struggling at the time she retired almost six years ago.  What I didn’t remember is at that time she was also dealing with a heart condition and continues to deal with it today.  It is easy to let your maintenance program slide when focus is placed on other priorities.

Lynn could have just as easily left the meeting that day without saying a word ti me but I am glad she didn’t.  I have made contact her after I made goal as she gave us all her email address.  She is also a friend on Facebook.  I hope to see her again and at least now I know where to find her.  She asked that if I do attend the Monday morning meeting again that I don’t “out her” as a leader, which I respect 100%.  She said even when she was at her goal weight, she liked attending meetings anonymously.  WW leaders are WW members first and foremost and attending a meeting anonymously allows them to be just another member among the group.

I have been collecting photos of all my WW leaders for a future blog post.  I didn’t feel I could ask Lynn for a photo the day I saw her.  Who knows what the future will hold and if I will feel comfortable in a future encounter.  I do know I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day after seeing her. 

The Funny Things People Say

 

Weight is one of those topics that seem to be off limits.  We have all learned a time or two to tread lightly when we make comments to another person.

“Congratulations!  When is the baby due?”

“I am not pregnant.”

(Gulp)

Somehow the subject of weight has become taboo all together.  However, when I notice somebody is losing weight I like to comment to them.  After all, you work really hard to lose weight the least somebody can do is notice!  Even if it is just a comment such as “You look great” and then just let them take the lead from there if they feel like talking further about it.

I have heard some funny comments in the last six years.  The most popular comment I get quite often is, “Your hair is difference since I last saw you.”  This might have been true in the past as I have changed my hair a few times (or many if you ask my sister Katie).

If I haven’t seen somebody in a while I know my weight is noticeable and perhaps since they don’t know how to comment they pick the safe comment!

My funniest comment came from a family friend who saw me almost 100 pounds lighter at my wedding reception.  After I had filled my plate and sat down to eat, she came by and said “How did you get so skinny when you eat so much?”  I just laughed but my sister was mortified.

You just gotta roll with the punches and find a way to laugh at the odd things people say.

And, find a way to cut off the naysayer comments that people also say.

What odd comments have you received?