Why is it that every time I turn on my laptop there is some sweet little article ready to lecture me on the reasons I’m failing miserably at losing those last couple of pounds?
It screams…Read me…I have the secret..I know the reasons you can’t lost weight.
The Internet, the magazines even the television is mocking me.
Some of the wise ones ideas go a little like this:
1. You are not getting enough sleep
2. You don’t need to lose any weight, you are at your ideal weight
3. You have reached a plateau
4. You need to exercise more
5. You are eating the wrong things
6. You have not given yourself enough time to lose the weight
7. Your goals are unrealistic
8. You eat too fast
9. Your kitchen should be closed after 8pm
10.You need to squeeze in a workout during your lunch hour
Huh. Can we get real for a minute? I don’t think these grand and glorious oh so general ideas on these neat and tidy “fix it” lists can apply to your average Momma in Suburbia.
Here are my well thought out excuses…er I mean rebuttals:
1. It is true, I don’t get enough sleep, but Hello! Moms never get enough sleep.
2. The theory that I’m not losing any more weight because I don’t need to is well, crap. If I don’t need to lose any weight then what is this wee muffin top hanging over the top of my jeans? It was NOT there a couple of months ago.
3. I have not reached a plateau. This ModernMom does not believe in plateaus…I only had 10 pounds to lose..I’m not stopping at pound number 8.
4. Yes, Okay..everybody needs to exercise more. Who wants to loan me a personal trainer and extend the day to 25 hours.
5. So chocolate is one of the wrong things to eat, but it is a staple in my life and vital to my emotional well being. It stays.
6. I have not given myself enough time to lose “the weight”. I don’t have any more time. Summers in Canada are short. It starts in like a week and will be over in about 90 days.
7. My goals are not unrealistic. I’m not asking to be 19 again or walk the catwalk. I know eating well is not going to reverse the aging process, I just want to look hot in at least one pair of jeans.
8. I’m eating too fast? Yes. Every Mother eats too fast. If you don’t eat fast..you don’t eat.
9. Close my kitchen? Seriously? 8pm is when I start my last load of laundry, make those lunches, fill out field trip forms. My day is not nearly over! Many a night Hubby and I don’t get dinner until way way after 8pm. Are we to skip this meal?
10. I’m sorry, squeeze in a workout during my lunch hour? I don’t have a lunch hour. Sometimes I don’t have a lunch! Sometimes my lunch is what ever the kids didn’t finish on their plates!
So why am I not losing the weight. Well I am, but frankly I could do without all the nagging. Every woman I know is working to be a better version of themselves. The reminders with the size 0 models talking about the benefits of “their” diet being the only one, and the before and after pictures with no touch ups at all..enough already.
Can we have some realism please?
Life is tough, emotional eating happens, weight goes up and down, and beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
Jenny Craig Weight Watchers Herbal One Special K Hoddi South Beach and Oprah! Back off.
Time to be healthy and happy with who we are. That IS what we preach to our children!
Cheers to all the women out there.
Now excuse me..there is some chocolate frosting in my fridge calling my name!
Umm…totally love this post. What can I say? Struggling with my weight my entire life? Check. Emotional eating? Check. All the above? Check. Sigh.
Just joined Weight Watchers and I am working on creating a lifestyle change to fit in with my busy life.
Exercise? What Margo said-running errands, loading/unloading the car after grocery shopping is not exercise? Then why am I so tired? LOL! We gotta learn to love ourselves for who we are and feel good about ourselves-that is key, especially if we want our children to be healthy. Gosh, just another thing to do, eh?
I second every single item on your list.
I mean, I’m 23 and I am, most days, thrilled with how I look and I know that when I’m 43 I’m going to wish I look like I do now but when my 43 year old mother looks hotter in a pair of jeans than I do (after birthing 4 children vs. my one) then it’s enough to make me think: Fack. I need to work out.
I’ve been trying, for the last month, REALLY trying.
I’ve fit working out into my mommy schedule and I’ve started eating smaller, healthier portions. I’ve even cut back on the chocolate and coffee! I’m done to once a week. (The cravings are almost too much to handle though, to tell you the truth. Mama needs her chocolate.)
Not only have I not LOST a pound. I have not lost an inch and I gained two inches in my chest!
I am too happy with myself to jump on a fad diet bandwagon but the muffin top is killing me.
And normally I love muffin tops. They’re delicious!
😉
So. Thursday morning, I joined a gym. I researched it carefully. Chose one that promotes healthy lifestyles as opposed to promoting just weight loss and a gym that has tons of branches that I can attend no matter where I am in Ottawa or Gatineau I can find one when I have a free half hour (HA.. yeah.. maybe not, but you never know..)
I am thrilled to start… although I haven’t actually gone yet.
But they have a great child care facility in the one I will probably (read: hopefully) attend regularly and I know myself enough to know that I’ll go just so my son can have some social time with other children his age lol.
Yeah, I can’t really remember the point of that rant.. but.. ya.
🙂
I’m really glad I found your blog anyhow and I can’t wait to catch up!
This post had a great message about body image and I’d love to link to it when I write some posts about fitness next week!
LOL!! You had me laughing! I love chocolate frosting as a snack too! I hate hearing every talk show and commercial preaching weight loss tips. I know why I am overweight, I am exhausted and so busy feeding everyone else that I hardly have to eat and then when I do eat, i totally binge on whatever I can get my hands on, vicious cycle! I keep telling myself I should just love my body and be thankful I am healthy, but the world makes that tough. Keep up the great writing!
Hah, great post! Their list DOES make sense but I like yours better 🙂
Hi ModernMom:
The registration’s in the blogomail! And I’m relying on you to set up & mentor the Canada (East) chapter too!
Lovely post!
TTFN
xLOL LOLA:)
PS Cannot access yr site DIRECT via the link on my blog anymore – have to do it the long way via GOOGLE!! Have any others reported the same problem??!
LOL yes, back off – i’m not losing weight because I drink wine every night and I”m going crazy. so there!
Great post…and so true. I wish I had the motivation to be a health-nut, but instead my motivation is focused on the kiddies too. I’ll shed a few pounds by the time they get into school…hopefully. You are a great writer 🙂
Love your blog! Thanks for stopping by mine. I have gained a few lbs… ugh! Need to work on it. Just started to run again this very week. Not sure how long I will last. lol If I last longer than a week, I will start blogging about it!
Way to go. I think I needed that today after the piece of apple pie I just scarfed down after dinner. It was the small piece out of the bunch, but still worth every bite.