Two days ago I was standing in line at the cash register of a thrift store, waiting to pay for some treasures I found. When the shop assistant scanned my stuff, she asked me: ‘How long until your baby arrives?’ My blood started boiling inside, but I tried to keep calm and replied: ‘I’m not pregnant. I’m just fat.’ I hoped this witty reply of mine would make her feel so embarrassed she wouldn’t dare say another thing. But instead, she started rambling: ‘Oh, but your belly really looks like there’s a baby in it! I really thought your were pregnant, because you definitely look that way! I thought you must have been seven months (!!!) into your pregnancy!’ I cast her an evil look and walked out of the store, wishing I could take off my one-day-old dress immediately and throw it into the next bin.
Source: pixabay.com
At times like these, it’s hard to maintain my healthy lifestyle. I mean, for the past few months I have been fighting to lose 8 kg and this women just comes around blurting that I look 7 months pregnant. What’s the use? I struggle, I fight, I even succeed, but other people still just see a fat woman standing in front of them. Because that’s the message they give you if you are not pregnant at all: ‘Hey girl, don’t you look fat!’ And to be honest, 111,5 kg or 103,5 kg: what’s the difference, really?
Well, it’s a freakin’ 8 kg, that’s the difference! And that’s a lot! That’s eight pineapples, that’s a fox-terrier, that’s an 8-month-old baby girl! Hey, wait a minute. I’m not getting a baby, instead I lost one! Try to deliver an 8-month-old kid yourself, Woman Behind The Counter!
Okay, you get my point, right? I tried to turn my anger into something useful. I tried to see the positive side. I was not going to give up this time. I was not letting her get me down by some stupid ignorant remark. I know what I have accomplished these past months and I’m awfully proud of it. People who know me don’t say these kinds of stupid stuff. They notice my weight loss, they compliment me on my struggle, they say I look nice in my new dress. So I’d better listen to them, than some stupid stranger, right?
While that may sound easy and logical, it still took some time for me to find back my strength. Let’s not forget, eating has always been my way of coping. So imagine the temptation of falling back into my old habits after a remark like this. But something kept me from grabbing a Mars bar after this situation. And that something was my list. And one goal in particularly:
No. 42 – Don’t eat sweet and salty snacks and sweet desserts for a month. Do this three times.
It just happened to be that I had only two more days to go before completing my second month! It would be stupid to give that up because a stranger made me feel bad, right? Another success was just waiting around the corner. So I didn’t budge. I stayed strong.
And after an angry rant on Facebook about this woman, I was able to go back being positive as well. I decided it would be the perfect moment to write this month’s selfie post. It was a chance for me to think about the good things surrounding me and to focus on the things I have achieved, regarding my weight. And you know what? It helped! I really felt better after writing down these things and sharing it with the world. And the month of no sweet and salty snacks? Totally nailed it!
I don’t know if I could have stayed strong if it weren’t for these goals. And to be honest, if it weren’t for you. Because it really keeps me on the right track, knowing that you will be there to read about my journey. It makes me so much more motivated to keep following the right track, as opposed to doing it only for myself. *MushyModeOn* So thank you for reading me! Thank you for supporting me! Thank you for helping me stay motivated and succeed! I really appreciate that! *MushyModeOff*
I might wait a few days before starting my third and last month of this goal. Next week I will have a theater camp weekend with Wow-Effect. Somehow I suspect them from bringing all kinds of delicious stuff to this weekend. I might even use the opportunity to bring something sweet myself. Or I’ll bake a quiche, I don’t know. Let’s just say I’d like to keep all options open for now. But I promise I won’t use this week as an excuse to start binge eating chocolate and ice cream. I’ll behave. Even if some wicked stranger crosses my path again. I’ll now have a perfectly good reply ready for them: this blog article.
4 Comments
Good for you for staying strong! That’s really the hardest part, it seems like. I’m fascinated by people who don’t know when to stop talking…
Yes, so weird… I was stunned by all the words coming out of her mouth after she realized she had made a mistake.
Wooooow! good for you for even having a goal you’re working on as far as losing weight and not eating sweets. This is something that I have struggled with lately and I have really binged on Chocolate in the last couple of days. But not any more! I really like how you decide to focus on the positive in this situation and focus on how far you have come, especially in the face temptation. It does help when you have people to report back to on how you are doing. It is also truly amazing what good writing down your accomplishments and positive things in your life does! It is huge! Honestly whenever we make the effort and hold strong like you did, we grow so much and it will be that much easier to stand firm the next time we are faced with that temptation. As I am sure you know, you not giving in at that moment was huge. It will be that much easier next time you are faced with that temptation. Every effort we make to accomplish something and do good is huge and make us that much more, better than we were when we started. If you don’t mind me asking, what inspired you to accomplish this goal? For those of us who are still struggling. 🙂
Thank you, such sweet words! ^_^
What inspired me was basically my list with 101 goals and this blog. I’ve tried losing weight and stop eating bad stuff so many times in the past and most of the times I was doomed to fail. I was motivated, but every time I would face a setback like this one, I would start eating again. Probably because no one would notice anyway and all my effort seemed useless (because of the setback).
But this time, I did it differently. I have started the Day Zero Project or 101 in 1001, which means I have to reach 101 goals in about three years. Some of my goals are health-related.
The first thing that really motivates me this time, is my time frame. I don’t have to lose 30 kg in 6 weeks, I have 3 whole years to do it! So I set realistic goals. The second thing is I split it into several smaller goals. Al these life style changes I implemented slowly instead of all at once. But the third and probably most important reason I stay motivated is because I’m actually telling people about my progress regularly through this blog. Reporting back to people is a really powerful thing.
Good luck with your own struggle. It isn’t an easy one. But if I can do this, I’m sure you can too!