For me, as with most people, stepping outside my comfort zone was, well.... uncomfortable. I spent a good amount of my adult life in the 'comfort zone'. It was far easier to grab a bag of chips or swing by a fast food restaurant to deal with daily stresses. Eating my way through problems was comfortable, which led to obvious weight gain, which led to excuse after excuse of how I was too tired, too sore, too big to exercise. I'd tell myself there was no point in putting in the effort when I knew I'd just consume more calories than I would burn. A therapist once told me, during a session in which I was feeling down about my weight and my unsuccessful love life, that I was very good at justifying almost anything to myself. It seems that I had justified my weight problem, so, in essence, I was lying to myself.
When I began trying to lose weight this time, it was like any other time I had made the attempt. Past failures swirled in my head and, deep down, I still worried I would fail again. I was waiting to fail since it was what I knew; I made promises to myself, yet I had let myself down so many times. It was only when I took the step of handing in my registration for the Tour de Jasper that I really made the mental switch. I was making a promise to myself and, not only that, doing the tour would be taking myself way out of my comfort zone! I slowly made the switch in my head from feeling failure looming over me to a mindset of keeping my promises to myself from now on and continuing to challenge myself by doing new things I previously would have shied away from.
When I started realizing what I could achieve by expecting more of myself, by being honest with myself, and keeping promises to myself, it was only then that I felt like a person who can see and reach their potential.
I've got a ways to go yet, but I have no doubt that I will reach my goals. Like anyone, I have challenges in my life that can make it difficult (single mom, child with autism, full time job, problems with anxiety) yet I'm still keeping the promises I've made to myself: get to the gym six days a week, follow my strength training and cardio program, track my food, eat often and healthy, and give myself a break for not being perfect. I stumble, but I get back up and keep going because, after all, as the saying goes 'nothing worth having is easy', and feeling as good as I do about myself and my future is definitely worth having. Get out of your comfort zone and see what you are capable of; you might amaze yourself.
Stats:
Starting Weight: 257 lbs
Current Weight: 213.5 lbs
Lost this week: 3
Total lost: 43.5 lbs
{italic}Grace Flack is an award-winning graphic designer at the Prince George Citizen. Her column will appear weekly, leading up to this year's Tour de Jasper, a four-day bike ride from Prince George to Jasper. {end italic}
