It's Not About Perfection

It's about progress.  We've all heard this saying, or some form of it, before.  And it's true, but when it comes to everyday life and my stubborn streak of perfectionism, it can be a bitter pill to swallow.

I had a weight loss disappointment yesterday. . .I gained weight for the first time since beginning this diet.  And at first I was angry.  Angry that I had adhered to the plan PERFECTLY and yet my body decided to not give up an ounce and, instead, added some.  Now, I'm sure most people would start listing all the reason why this would happen, why it's normal, etc.  But in reality, yesterday morning standing on my bathroom scale, I didn't want to hear it!  I was pissed!! 

But then I realized this is going to be an up and down struggle for awhile.  It's not about each incremental loss or frustrating gain (in spite of perfect "performance").  It's about the progress I've made in how I approach food over all.  In truth, about my relationship with food.  This is proof that food cannot give to me what I want or need from it, other than sustenance.  I need to come to a place that I use food solely for the reason it was created: to keep me alive and healthy.  No more, no less.

It is not a tool to be used for keeping me company, or for patting me on the back, or even for making my body loose weight by my tyrant like control over what I eat.  It is only for feeding the cells of my body. 

So about halfway through the day, I decided, "I can roll with this."  I'll keep plugging along and doing my best to conform to the guidelines, but I refuse to make myself crazy.  And in spite of what I said in my first post about "this isn't a lifestyle change, it's a diet!". . .it really is a lifestyle change.  But not about WHAT I eat, but HOW I eat it and my own mindset.

This morning, I lost what I had gained plus a little.  Was that because I was perfect yesterday in my eating?  Nope, cuz I wasn't!  But I also didn't go crazy.  All those reasons for seeing a gain came flooding in and I understood that, indeed, it isn't about perfection, but about progress.  And I think I've made a LOT of that!