I was considering these questions today. I'd love to hear your answers.
For me, I've been struggling to stay off the scale lately. I don't know what the heck happened! Seeing a number doesn't tell me anything I don't already know. It's never a surprise when I do step on the scale. It's super predictable to the point it should be boring, and yet I find myself overly curious lately. For the first time since I was a kid, my body is completely calling the shots. It's regulating. It's doing its thing. It's sort of a miracle to behold. I want to watch! How is it that I have some splurgy holiday fun and feel a little fluffy, but then without any deliberate action on my part, I find myself less hungry and my clothes getting loose again? This without "managing" my eating in any way. Maybe this is how it feels in a self-driving car when you let go of the steering wheel. It's hard to believe this not weighing thing safe and can work. What if we run over a pedestrian? I'd better look just to be sure things are ok.... So, basically every morning I'm feeling tempted to hop on the scale and have to remind myself not to. I'm hoping it goes back to being a non-issue shortly. Going weeks and months without thinking about weight at all is even more pleasant.
What I'm proud of lately is the level of self-trust I have around eating and exercise. I'm no longer looking for experts and outside sources to tell me what I should eat, when I should eat, or what kind of exercise is best. That search was like a full-time job for a couple of decades. I'd jump from book, to workout program, to blogger, to trainer searching for answers and advice, or at least confirmation that I was "doing it right." Now, it's obvious that my own body does this so much better than someone who has never met me! I know if I'm hungry and what will satisfy. The internet can't know this.
What are you struggling with or proud of these days?
I’m struggling with body image, particularly my belly. If I go too far down that track, I start thinking about starting a cut, which is the last thing I need. This has translated to me being on the scale more than I would like. Because I’m not liking what I’m seeing visually, I feel the need to confirm that my weight hasn’t moved much.
I’m proud of developing some work out consisteny, and how strong my legs and glutes feel. Tonight I did a pretty tough work out and thought, “All my muscles feel really well loved tonight.“ That is a huge mindset shift from a year ago, when I was still trying to wreck myself as often as possible.
I've been struggling with permission to eat more. After having my usual porridge for breakfast this morning I still felt a little unsatisfied a couple of hours later. Cue conversation in my head about how 'I shouldn't be hungry coz I've already had my usual breakfast' blah, blah, blah. I struggle with the idea that my food needs change daily, and that needing to eat more on one day won't lead to eating more every single day after that. So I warmed up a pumpkin sage muffin, added some butter and enjoyed every bite. Now my stomach feels warm and satisfied. I have a habit of using hot drinks after breakfast to 'fill in the gaps' in my stomach in order to feel satisfied, when really I probably just need to eat a little more. I have drinks so I don't eat. I'll be interested to see how eating more can allow me to let go of this habit. I am proud of myself for honoring my need to eat a little more this morning, and not getting all bingey about it.
I am also struggling with the scale. As much as I like to think it doesn't influence my actions, it does. I am also struggling with other people talking about the diet they're on, which then makes me second guess what I'm eating and how much.
I am proud of not forcing myself to rigidly adhere to a workout schedule.