Plateaus…Separating The Women From The Girls
“Continuous effort — not strength or intelligence — is the key to unlocking our potential.” – Liane Cardes
plateau |plaˈtō|noun
an area of relatively level high ground.• figurative a state of little or no change following a period of activity or progress
verb ( -teaus, -teaued, -teauing) [ intrans. ]reach a state of little or no change after a time of activity or progress :the industry’s problems have plateaued out.
Yep, that definition pretty much describes exactly where I am. It’s happened…I’ve hit a weight loss plateau. For 4 days I’ve been vacillating between 141.5 pounds and 140.5 pounds. Up one day, down the next, then up again… it is beyond frustrating. In the past (like every time I’ve ever been on a mission to get myself in shape), I’ve given in to the plateau. I’ve let it get me down. Then because I’m so frustrated and feeling like it’s never going to pass I do what I’ve always done … get some of my favorite food to make me feel better. I’ve come to understand and accept that I have always used food to deal with my emotion difficulties. It’s usually my good ole’ stand-by of Pepperoni’s Tavern pizza and wine or swirl pound cake and coffee… or both!! I would wallow in my self-pity and curl up on the couch for an afternoon of movies (or Oprah shows that I’d Tivo’d) and eat till my heart’s content. And you know what? I felt better while I was eating. The taste of the perfectly melted cheese combining with the grease from the spicy pepperoni, all on top of perfectly cooked crust basted with melted butter combined with fresh herbs… it was heaven on earth. Or so I thought. But then that’s what all addicts say. The temporary emotional high falls prey to the inevitable. You have to come down. For me, that’s the part where I wake up from the food induced nap and feel like a total failure. Which makes me sad, and disappointed, at which point I usually gave up and went back to my old unhealthy habits and told myself I’d start again next week.
The whole crazy unending cycle sounds so pathetic! So immature! So….childish! Like a little girl who doesn’t get something she wants so she sulks off to have a pity party for herself! You want to look at that little girl and say “SNAP OUT OF IT! GROW UP!!”
Plateaus test this in you. Are you going to be the little girl who puts on the sad face, curls down her lower lip and gives up. Hoping that if you find a way to make yourself feel better this time, next time you’ll find a way to get what you want. Or are you going to act like the grown women that you are now. Face the fact that plateaus are going to happen. It’s part of the journey. It’s on the plateau that you have to reach deep down inside yourself and connect with the strength in your soul. Re-dedicate yourself to your goal of being healthy. Tell yourself what you know to be true… that “this too shall pass.”
In fact, you can even make a game of it. That’s what I’m doing. I’m not getting mad…I’m getting even! I’m staying the course. I’m going to work a little harder today and burn some extra calories. I’m refusing to let this get me down. I’m going to show some self-love! Like when your child comes to you with a scraped knee and you give them a big hug and a kiss and make it all better. We all need some self love. We need to treat ourselves like we treat others that we love. And you know what? I feel empowered. I feel like I’m in control of my destiny. This time I’m not letting my old child-like “food issues” overcome the self-aware and sensible woman I’ve become. I’m getting my exercise stuff on and heading out to burn some calories and look forward to the sense of well-being that it brings. I’m going to “stick with the continuous effort” the quote above refers to so this time I can reach my potential!
Have you ever had a plateau? How did you deal with it? Please leave a comment and share your story. I’d love to hear it!
P.S.– Pepperoni’s Tavern really does have the BEST pizza! I am a pizza LOVER and it’s tied for first place in my book. And I will enjoy it again someday. Just not right now. If you are at a place in your journey where you can enjoy a treat, check them out. You won’t be disappointed, I promise.
