A New Normal

I was continually asked how long until the detox was over and I could go back to “normal” foods. My elongated stare told them they should know better, this was my new normal, and clearly I was ecstatic about it. Sarcasm aside, before I knew it a month had passed and I did start to feel well. I started to feel great actually. I started tasting food and not condiments. I was no longer tired in the morning and my personal favorite side effect, my sense of smell got stronger. I felt this huge weight filled mostly with guilty pleasures was lifted minus one tiny drawback: I hadn’t lost any weight. Are you kidding me? I have been craving toast, coffee, pasta, and ice cream for four weeks and all I have to show for it is a better sense of smell? Not exactly the trade off I was aiming for. This brings me to my next battle: a sense of time.

For the first four weeks my weight would drop, climb, drop, climb, etc. It didn’t help that I was getting on the scale several times a day (big no, no!) and after a solid few weeks my frustration began to mount. My overall goal is to lose 20lbs. This is still my goal (don’t fret, I am 8 lbs away!) However the flash of “lose 10 lbs in 4 weeks” that seemed to find its way to the cover of at least five magazines in my weekly checkout aisle had burrowed its way in, even when I knew better. This does not take into consideration body type, overall goal, weight lose method, or your health. I set my goal with the intention of allowing 6 or more months to deflate that tire around my belly, but I was ready for a seeable result.

Week five came and my body just seemed to catch on to what it was I was trying to do. Most importantly, I was consistent. I may have been frustrated and a bit confused but I kept at my new normal eating style and trusted that eventually I would start to see the light.

What I wish someone had told me: Not only is weight loss not going to happen over night, it is not going to happen over a few weeks and it is not supposed to! Fast weight loss does not give your body or your mind the learned capability of life change versus diet. Diet screams restriction and as soon as that restriction ends there goes all the hard work. My new normal in addition to eating was my acceptance of a time frame that belonged all to me. Every body will adapt differently, listen to it, after all it is just trying to look out for you.

xoxo