We’ve all heard the old fable, which is meant to teach us that slow and steady wins the race.
But seriously, who wants to be the tortoise when it comes to weight loss?
No-one. Cos it’s boring, and like the hare, we all want to race to the finish line as quickly as possible.
But isn’t that the trouble?
When I was a girl, my mum gave up smoking when she was about 36 – and started to gain weight.
I remember her saying: “I’m not going to be fat and 40.”
Before she embarked on a series of fad diets which had her saying “I’m not going to be fat and 50” then “I’m not going to be fat and 60”.
She’s now 70 – and twice the size of her 30-something self.
We all do it. Race to get that horrible fat shifted as quickly as possible.
But like the hare, we tire quickly. Tire of starving ourselves. Tire of punishing bootcamps or eating nothing but cabbage soup.
And in this particular fatty fable, we never reach the finish line, because the more tired we get, the more we give up, the more weighed down we become – literally.
So now I’m being a tortoise. And I’m happy to report 6lbs off in January.
Yep, this week the scales showed another 1½ lbs off – an improvement on my little hiccup last week.
But I’m starting to realise why we don’t all go the way of the tortoise.
Progress is slow and gradual, you don’t feel any different, or see any results no matter how hard you look.
But the most difficult part is that while you’re shuffling along at a steady pace, you might just see someone dash past you. Making it even harder to resist the urge to rush things, and become that hare all over again.
I’m so determined there’s no going back on this fat-to-fit project, I was chuffed to become one of 5 diet diarists for UKMums.tv.
What I didn’t count on was the fact I’d be comparing myself to the 4 other girls taking part – all of whom happen to be thinner than me, and are dropping weight at a faster rate (oh the injustice of it all!)
It’s all very well thinking “I’m fine as I am” and “I’ll go at my own pace”.
But when you start to focus on what others are doing, it messes with your head.
I’ve lost 4lbs in the 3 weeks I’ve been writing the diary (I’d lost 2lbs the week before I started).
My fellow diarists have lost 10lbs, 9½lbs, 8lbs and 5lbs respectively.
IN THREE WEEKS.
Gimme a break girls!
But they’re doing what feels right for them, and I’ve got to stick to what’s working for me.
As much as I’m feeling like the less attractive, lumbering tortoise at the back of the line.
I can lose 5lbs in a week. Really I can. But then I’m miserable/starving/knackered and feeling like I can’t carry on for much longer.
There are 52 weeks in a year. If I lose 1lb a week, that’s 3 stones and 10lbs off – which is roughly my target to achieve this year.
Or 6lbs a month – like I’ve managed in January – is 72lbs off by the end of the year. Just over 5 stones. So I might reach my target by October or November if I keep going at this rate.
Of course I’d like to get there in 6 months. I’d like to get there tomorrow!
But I’ve spent too many Christmases miserable and angry with myself for still being the roly poly I was the year before.
This year is going to be different.
Yes, that hare is looking a very attractive prospect now.
But this tortoise is sticking to one step at a time and reminding herself of how far she’s come.
This week, I tried on a pair of trousers which used to be so tight, I had a roll of fat popping over the waistband.
They fit me like a glove.
Consider me an ass-kicking ninja tortoise!
Or at least I will be. Just give me time.
Well done! Slow and steady wins the “race” – not that there should be a race & you stand more chance of keeping it off long term.
Picture in your mind how much you’ve lost, my D was 6lb 12oz so that’s your equivalent.
It would be really unhealthy if it all dropped over night, not to mention the loose skin it would leave behind.
You’ll get there, we all will
If you put it like that, I suppose it is impressive that I’ve lost the equivalent of a little person….. But you know how hard it can be, when your mind inevitably has you comparing yourself to others. But I seriously don’t have the time/energy to do this any faster.
very impressive and i do know how you feel, i lost 4 stones last year and i am hitting the impatient time again where i am expecting to be 2 stone lighter in the first few weeks! after getting a grip i am not doing to bad and a slow plod seems to be working!
Really love this post. So wise and true and inspirational. Such sense in all you say.
Your post will help me on my journey so I thank you for that.
Wise, honest, true, open, wonderful. Your post will help me and I am sure many others on this brilliant but frustrating journey. Thanks for linking up. I think if we all weighed in monthly we might be far more chilled about it all but who could wait that long to find out how they had done?
Not me! What keeps me going is the idea of running down to Boots for my weigh-in on a Wednesday morning. I haven’t put batteries into my scales at home, so I’m not tempted to hop on every day. If you read my earlier post on “why diets fail” it’s one of the top 10 reasons.
I’m totally with you…. I’m also a tortoise this time round! I’m relaxed and don’t care how long it takes as long as the weight is coming off
Good luck for next week xx
Thanks honey. We’ll have the last laugh at Christmas when we’re in unfeasibly little black dresses *dares to dream*
Fabulous and inspirational post. This is so true. Yes it’s frustrating to go steady but it’s the best way to lose weight and keep it off. You go, ninja girl
Thanks pet *attempts high kick and falls on the floor*
Wow! That’s fabulous…. Well done!!!
I’ve so far lost 17.6lb since New Year!! I’m expecting the weight loss to slow down soon enough! The first 6 weeks of a diet are usually the ones with the heftiest loss!!!
GO YOU!!! I’ll forgive you for doing so much better than me, cos you have your wedding to prepare for x
Well done. As well as slow and steadily losing it without it feeling like too much of an effort, you are also not putting any extra on – which appears to happen as you get older too. So you may not appreciate it now but you will do long term. Well done. I think changing habits is the best thing to do.
And I sympathise with your mom because I went from a size 6 to 16 when I gave up smoking.