Here’s the thing: I started working out postpartum about two weeks ago. I stepped on the scale last night to see that I haven’t lost any weight. In fact, I’ve gained a pound. In all honesty, it was a motivation killer. And I’ve got some awesome motivation! Even with my motivation in mind, I really didn’t want to get back on my bike. So, what do I do to keep moving forward? Giving up is just not me. But going in the opposite direction is not the plan.
The Downward Spiral
Feeling down on yourself at some point throughout your weight loss journey is inevitable. Sometimes a weight increase just makes you want to give up – especially in the beginning. When you finally start trying to do better and the numbers on the scale say you haven’t done better at all. It’s hard.
It’s supposed to be hard. The things that are hardest are often the most worth doing. Think about the best things in your life — the accomplishments, the challenges faced, the fears beaten. The harder it is, the better you feel when it’s completed.
But before you realize this, you might find yourself avoiding working out or you eat too much junk because you think it doesn’t matter anymore. It does. One step backward does not mean there is never going to be any forward movement. This is not a one-way street!
Don’t Forget the Accomplishments
When we focus on the scale and only the scale, we are missing so much. Think back to your very first workout. It was awful, wasn’t it? If you’re anything like me, your most recent workout was pretty awful, too. It was awful for me because I did more than I did in my first workout. I did more because I was able to do more.
Just a couple of weeks in and my spin bike has gotten more use than ever before. I’m seeing improvements in my times, my distance, and my stamina. It’s an amazing thing to be able to ride for a few minutes before I start the heavier breathing. Two weeks ago and it was only 30 seconds before I was panting.
Seeing these small improvements, even if it was just going 30 seconds more on the bike than I did the night before, is huge in terms of progress. That’s all I’m really looking for. Don’t expect to achieve your whole long term goal in a couple of weeks. Doing so causes more harm than good. Look at the big picture.
Think of where you were a few weeks ago. Think of where you were two months ago. Just over two months ago I was about to pop with my precious baby girl! Obviously, I was huge. I couldn’t imagine even sitting on a spin bike at that time! After putting my body through that, it clearly is going to take some time to bounce back.
Keep Going
These are the things that I’m going to focus on: time, distance, breathing. These are measurements that are sure to keep me moving forward. Sure, I’ll still step on the scale once a week just to check, but my real progress has been in my physical change. Knowing what I did my first week compared to what I’m doing this week is huge in moving forward. It’s a real help to know how much I’ve already improved!
I’ve created a printable that helps me to stay on track and see my progress. Just give me your name and e-mail and I’ll be sure to send it to you for free!
Switch it Up
Maybe if I did something more than just the spin bike I would have better results. Although I’ve been fairly consistent on the bike, it does get boring and I can feel myself losing steam. So, maybe switching it up will help.
I decided to start putting that thought to the test, so I created a workout plan (also a printable!) that includes core, arms, and legs. I’ve decided to do the bike every other day (also because it really hurts my butt if I do it too many days in a row!) and fill in the other workouts on the days in between.
I’ll be sending out that printable for free in a coming newsletter, so be sure to sign up so you can receive that!
Team Up
Listen, we can do this. Maybe it’s going to take a team of people trying to accomplish the same goal to push each other, but it’s possible. Find that motivation in your friends, family, or complete strangers on the internet. Whatever it takes, right?
I’m going to keep doing this thing. If you want to join me, let’s go! Sign up for my email list and we’ll figure it out together.
Have you ever felt like you were going the opposite direction of what you had planned? Putting on weight when you’re trying to lose it is an awful feeling. How did you get past it? Let me know in the comment section.