Wednesday, December 23, 2015

December 23rd, 2015 Where It Gets Real

December 23rd, 2015 Where It Gets Real

I couldn't be more pleased with how maintenance mode is proceeding. That kind of sounds like a removed perspective, as if I'm watching it unfold instead of being in the middle of it all. I'm certainly in the thick of it each day.

More than once I've heard a variation of "maintenance is happening so easily for you." It's meant as a compliment, so I don't launch into describing the structure that keeps me well. I simply say, "thank you, I'm very grateful." And I am, immensely blessed and tremendously grateful.

 Without the daily structure found in the fundamental elements of my recovery, this entire maintenance mode would be a very different story. You see, the truth is...

I have the heart, desires, behaviors, reactions and chemistry of a 500 pound man. My body, without a structured plan, influenced by all I am, will march directly back to over 500 pounds. Is it scary? No.

I have a spiritual peace with it all. I've been down this road, I've been humbled to a place and level I felt was the point of no return and somehow, through the grace of God, made it back to where I am today. My place here isn't guaranteed forever. It is dependent on my willingness to do what is required.

I have fully embraced and accepted what is required of me to continue enjoying this multi-faceted freedom. And it's in this acceptance and embrace, I find peace and calm affording me the ability to carry on another day, and another...and another. 

I don't proceed each day kicking and screaming or whining about how life isn't fair because my normal isn't the normal I wanted. They get to eat whatever they want without ever weighing or measuring any of it--they don't log it and they dang sure don't photograph and tweet it---and they eat sugar whenever they fancy. And they never gain a pound!!! That's great for them! That's their normal. I can try to live their normal, but it wouldn't end well. I would completely lose myself along the way.

I accept and embrace my normal and suddenly I discover the truest sense of harmony.

These dynamics get deep, my friend. It's an expedition worth taking. It's also one most of us are not conditioned to entertain in the slightest. Thank you weight loss industry! Prime example this evening...

I ran into an acquaintance in the meat department of the store who shook my hand and was clearly in shock over the physical side of this transformation. He doesn't read this blog. I know he doesn't because he asked if I had purchased a weight loss plan of some kind. "Is it something you bought?"  No, not literally. Figuratively, perhaps.

I fully invested in the idea that it was possible without purchasing a predetermined plan or product.

This "magic plan/product" perspective is a product of decades of weight loss industry marketing that has done a very good job at convincing millions they need this plan or that plan, this product or that pill, or shot or whatever.

 And many of these things work. And they work well.

And the (often times very short term) success stories are used to convince more and more of the same: If you want results, this is what you need. "Look what it did for so and so!!" But here's the deal:

 The manufacturers/creators of these products base their formulas and procedures on proven science. And they make millions and some make billions of dollars. Rarely do they consider the most critical element of them all: The human element.  The human element is where it gets real.

 And when it gets real, truths are revealed. Ultimately, these truths, rejected, determine how it all goes regardless of the science involved. These truths accepted and embraced, have the ability to change everything for that person--different from any other weight loss or maintenance attempt.

 But all of that doesn't matter to the weight loss industry, because at the same time it's becoming real for many, many more are reaching the point of desperation...and another sale is made. 

 It's an industry fortified and nurtured by our ability to believe in a product more than we believe in ourselves.   

 And we gotta believe that the spiritual, mental, emotional and the elemental tools needed, exist for each of us. I believe they do. They're not all the same. Our combinations are all slightly different. But they exist for me and they exist for you.
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Today's bi-weekly maintenance weigh-in at the doctor's office:
photo 212.0 weigh day_zpss0bf6sug.jpg
This represents a .8 pound gain from the previous 211.2. This is a good fluctuation. I see a nice pattern developing...
photo photo 18_zpsmjfb3tnc.png
I don't get too caught up in all of the statistics and numbers today's technology provides, but I really dig these numbers.

Today was an incredible day. I'll let the tweets handle the rest, while I get some rest.

My Tweets Today:
































Thank you for reading and your continued support,
Strength,
Sean
at

3 comments:

  1. LEEDecember 24, 2015 at 4:40 AM

    "Photograph and tweet it".... It is the best accountability trick EVER. I stole that trick from you and it helps immensely. I also showed my tweets to my doctor who liked it too, and I told him about you.

    ReplyDelete
  2. AnonymousDecember 24, 2015 at 6:53 AM

    Merry Christmas, Sean! What a wonderful way to finish out 2015. :)

    I have a new blog add it's first post is a Christmas message. :D What a wonderful way to start a blog, huh?

    Merry Christmas! http://anunclutteredspace.blogspot.com/

    Deb

    ReplyDelete
  3. CaronDecember 24, 2015 at 9:13 AM

    You are doing great in maintenance. I, for one, know how much work maintenance takes as I've been at it for over ten years. We're worth it. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete

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