Progress

I don't think it's accurate to call me either analytical or not, but I do enjoy data.  I'd like to think that I'm a numbers person, but the truth is that I'm used to the strategy of using numbers to solidify your argument from high school speech and debate.  Stats and quotes.  Quotes and stats.  Abraham Lincoln once said that 98% of the stats you hear are either skewed or completely untrue.

See what I did there?

The easiest way to skew results with stats is a bar graph.  If you want your results to look more drastic when you've only recently seen them turn in your favor, shorten the period of time reviewed on your x axis.  If it's been more gradual than you would've liked, lengthen your x axis so you can make the numbers reallllllly small and the audience just sees the needle go in the desired direction.

Guys, I'm elated to report that MY weight loss results can withstand ANY of these tricks.  Despite depression, stress, dysfunction, you name it, I AM LOSING WEIGHT CONSISTENTLY.  Day after day.  I mean I've been laid out barely conscious for the last three days, and I've still lost weight (and no I'm not ignoring the fact that my caloric intake was likely down b/c my friends, this girl right here doesn't starve a fever.  Picture the opening scenes of Bridget Jones diary, only with a lot of kleenex and nyquil).

Source: nwonline.com.au

As an overeater, eating in general makes the pain go away.  That's the way it works in your brain.  And when you're sick, all the self love and inspirational people/quotes you've surrounded yourself with go in the trash can along with your last three ice cream sandwich wrappers.

So no, it isn't illness related weight loss.  It's Heidi's life is changing related weight loss.  And that feels pretty damn good.

Here's the break down, any way you'd like to slice it.

One Week. Five Pounds.

One Month. 10 lbs.  I didn't record weight as often as I should've in August, so I feel that I probably creeped up over 390 at some point at the beginning of the month and my second 24 day challenge cleanse.  But we're sticking with documented data here, so 10 lbs it is. 

Six Months. It's hard to say how many total pounds were lost, because us big girls love to YoYo.  To net these 10 lbs over the last six months is huge.  It says that I am turning the tide, and that's what matters. 

One Year - starting weight today 2014 was 377.  I'm only 3 lbs from that.  Given that I average 20 lbs gain a year, I'll take that as progress!

See what I mean?  If this were a stock I'd tell you to sell sell sell - it's value is only going in one direction - down!

Do this for yourself.  I woke up this morning finally well enough to see the aftermath of the last week's illness and general sloth around my house.  There was a science experiment in the sink, cat food all over the kitchen floor (I tried to pour the oversized bag of catfood into her little bowl and just left the aftermath for her to eat because, well, I could), a path of empty water bottles, kleenexes, and cough drop wrappers throughout the house.  You could definitely tell where I plopped in my self pity, as these paths would evolve into piles of debris in a circle around a mound of blankets and pillows and remotes and, yes, I'm ashamed to admit, two empty ice cream cartons.

The windows all got opened, I pranced through the house with my lysol spraying every surface in sight, and within an hour had laundry, dishwasher, and vacuum all put to their good uses.  And I weighed myself.   I couldn't remember if that was as much progress as I really thought it was, so I hopped on My Fitness Pal and logged it.  And it WAS great!  Then I checked my past history, and got even more excited.  And so a blog entry had to happen.

I tell you this stuff not because I like the world knowing I'm a slob with self control and esteem issues.  I tell you this stuff because I LOVE the world knowing that I am imperfect, just like you, and that God's grace is sufficient.

Stay your course, allow yourself to be human, and get back up again!!!  That's always progress, in my book.