Dear Reader,
When I was getting my steps in earlier today, I was scrolling through my YouTube feed. I found myself watching a video about lying influencers. This particular video showed various TikTok-ers and YouTubers and caught them in straight-up lies. It’s not the type of video I normally watch. I don’t think it’s a particularly healthy thing to watch those types of videos, which is why I’m not going to link to it. I try to avoid watching a lot of videos in general. And I especially try to avoid scrolling YouTube. But today I scrolled YouTube, because that’s how I could get myself to get up and get some steps in.
Time for a slight digression, though you’ll see this is related to what we’re talking about. There are times in my life when I need an extra bribe to get myself up and do the things I know need to get done, and that will make me feel better if I do them. This week has been rough, for reasons that I won’t go into here. This is a week where my motivation level is low. I know I will feel better if I get my steps in. I don’t particularly “want” to get my steps in. But I also know that I can dangle a carrot in front of myself, and I’ll get up and do my steps. Today’s carrot was YouTube videos.
Anyway, back to that video. It made me think about my own videos, podcast episodes, and books. I strive always to be authentic. My content is filled with the mistakes I’ve made/continue to make. But despite my best efforts, I’m know things get left on the cutting room floor that would be unflattering. I avoid certain topics because I know I’ll get hateful comments.
Added to this, I change my mind on things from time to time. Sometimes I loosen up what I’m doing. I do my best to point these things out when they occur. Even then, it’s quite possible you will miss the live, the video, the pod, or the book where I discuss these things. You’re busy. I’m busy. I get it. But I want to make sure you’re fully aware of just how imperfect I am.
A thing I love about the weight loss journey is that you don’t have to be perfect in order to have great success. With that in mind, I’m going to take you through some things I still mess up on, things I’ve loosened up on, and stuff I’ve not changed my mind about. Just so we’re all on the same page.
Stuff I Still Mess Up On
- Eating too fast.
- Eating distractedly (usually due to being in my own head/ruminating on things).
- Eating too much at a meal.
- Not doing what I say I’m going to do.
Stuff I’ve Loosened Up On
- Step goals (in weight loss mode, I was strict: 6 miles, 7 days a week, no matter what. After much experimentation (sometimes no real goal, sometimes 6 miles 6 days a week, other times trying other exercises (running 6 miles, weight lifting, swimming 50 laps a day) I found I feel much better when I’m consistently active in some way. These days I get my 6-mile step goal in pretty consistently, but I give myself major holidays off, Sundays off, and if there’s a valid reason, I cut myself some slack.
- I take major holidays off from fasting, as well as random days when needed.
- If I guess wrong (meaning I inadvertently eat too little food at my OMAD, and I start to get a visual migraine the next day, I’ll go ahead and eat.
- Weekends. Saturdays aren’t OMAD anymore. They’re usually a 2MAD.
Stuff I Haven’t Changed
- I weigh first thing in the morning. (Only exception: if I am travelling.)
- I pay attention to my 7-day average.
- I eat whatever I want. No food is off the menu, no matter how delicious/high carb/high fat, etc.
- I still have coffee with half and half whenever I want it outside of my meal time.
- How I approach going off plan: if a member of my family asks me to eat, even if I planned it as an OMAD day, I’ll eat. And then I’ll eat my supper as normal.
- “Cheat day” every Sunday. Call it a complete day off from fasting, if you prefer.
Even though I thought of myself of laid back back in 2017 when I started my YouTube channel, I’d say I’m more laid back now. Now, you might be wondering how that has affected my weight. My goal, since 2018, has been to stay in the 140s. It’s been there in general, but sometimes my weight hangs out in the lower 150s, though my 7-day average has stayed consistently in the normal BMI range (under 155 for my 5’6″ frame.) I am pleased with my results. I’m content with where I’m at. And I hope that by sharing all this, you’ll feel encouraged.
Perfection is an illusion. Everything you see on social media has been edited, in some form or fashion. It’s the nature of the beast. Life is messy. The weight loss journey is messy. You can mess up a lot (multiple mistakes a day!) and still hit your goal and keep it off.
Sincerely,
Kayla Cox