Ok, Ladies – this one is for you. Guys – go back to Paleo Marine and revel in your luck at being male for a bit or go find some new recipes to try on the Favorites page. You can come back next week and I might have something for you.
<begin female rant>
Ok, so ladies, this is the reality check for those of you who have struggled with your weight your entire life. Here are a few truths that I can confidently say given my last 2 1/2 years with E.J:
- Keeping weight off is just as hard (if not harder) than losing it.
- It never comes off as fast as it is put on
- Men can always reach their weight goals faster, with way less effort (like most things in life)
I know this sounds a bit catty, but I’m dealing with menstrual cramping and bloating while EJ’s shedding 2-4 lbs a day since we returned from our trip. It’s just so not fair.
I’m doing everything right – I picked up my running routine in the mornings and prepped all of our meals for the week. I am avoiding snacking and watching my portion sizes. I am avoiding sugars, dairy, and alcohol and still am only down 3 lbs from my post-vacation weight.
Logically, I know that the weight is clinging because of my cycle, and yes, I know it takes longer for women’s bodies to let go of it, and yes, I realize that all I need to do is just stay the course and eventually things will work the way they’re supposed to, but damn it, this just sucks.
When I was losing the weight a few years ago, I was able to have more patience with the fits and starts – because I had already come so far, it was easier to grant myself the grace to accept when my body worked against me, but right now the combination of all of my clothes being tighter or just not wearable and E.J.s success in dropping the weight is making me want to scream. It’s almost enough to go climb inside a pint of Ben and Jerry’s, regardless of how gross it will make me feel afterward.
I’m not gonna… I’m just saying I’m a grown woman and you can’t stop me 😉
So if any of you were under the illusion that weight loss with Paleo was somehow easy, or that it’s easier to maintain and/or re-lose it after it was lost initially, I can tell you it’s not. I struggle with it every day just like anyone else, and I have days like today when I could really use a good glass of wine or three, but I stick to it for 3 reasons:
- I really like the feeling when I look in the mirror or at a photograph of myself and like what I see
- I know that this frustration and weight gain is temporary
- I am super competitive, and I refuse to let E.J. win 🙂
Let’s face it, it’s probably mostly that last one…
Ok, I’m done. I’m sure next week I’ll feel much better and have some nice new recipes to share!
<end rant>