Photo by Waranya Mooldee on Unsplash

Why is the hare winning? I thought the tortoise won?

Remember the childhood story about the Tortoise and the Hare? While there have been a few edits over the years, what has remained is a powerful life lesson that I recently reminded myself of. Actually, it came to me this morning in the shower.

First of all, I need to say that I have a special place in my heart for life lessons – especially ones cleverly wrapped inside delightfully entertaining stories. Gets me every time.

Well, the Tortoise and the Hare is a lesson I forgot, but one that is really resonating with me today. Why? Because in my world the Hare is winning. Seems the Tortoise took a wrong turn.

What does that even mean? If you haven’t figured it out, I’m both the Hare and the Tortoise. I’m recreating this story once again into a modern day fable – my weight loss/gain fable that is. Do you follow me?

Ok, let’s catch-up if you haven’t been reading my other posts. (which you really should – just saying)

I’ve been on Weight Watchers since September 2016. I’m a devoted WW girl. I find the program super easy to follow and I love the flexibility it gives me. I am not an Ambassador, I am simply someone that likes the program and has found some inspiring success. Although I must say, I would love to be part of the organization one day – that’s how much I believe in it.

That being said, I have struggled with the new Freestyle program. My post about being a Freestyle Fatty from a few weeks ago was an honest account of my struggles. I have not recovered from these – but I think it’s because I have chosen to be defiant. I have subconsciously sabotaged my success by not tracking, eating too much and not exercising. And yeah, I bought Oreo ice cream last night and ate a massive ice cream cone like a five year old!

I am allowing the Hare to win. Ok…now to tie the Tortoise and the Hare to create my fable:

The Hare = Weight Gain

The Tortoise = Weight Loss

The Hare

Spoiler Alert: Gaining weight is easy and fast for me. Super fast. When I’m not focused on good eating habits, exercise and looking after my mental health, I can easily gain back weight I’ve lost. I don’t even notice how a handful of pretzels, a couple cookies and an ice cream cone of two can have a significant impact on my weight. And it happens fast. And easily.

I gained seven pounds after Weight Watchers Freestyle Program launched because I wasn’t being as mindful and observant of what I knew to be the right portion size or the fact that zero points actually have calories. I got sloppy. I’m still sloppy. I became arrogant like the Hare. “Look at me, eating all these zero point foods … because I can!”

The truth is I’m unhappy about being a turtle.

I gained those seven pounds faster than I have ever lost 5lbs – the Hare was clearly winning. And not much has changed since I wrote about these seven pounds on January 31st. The Hare is still in the lead.

The Tortoise

Photo by Jeremy Bishop on Unsplash

If you’ve been reading about my journey then you’ll know that there is no spoiler alert here – I am a turtle when it comes to dropping pounds. I can lose 5lbs in a month when I am 100% on point with my food and exercise – 5lbs. All that hard work for 5lbs. It’s like watching paint dry in S L O W  M O T I O N. Painful.

But like moments in time or posts in the past, I am re-setting. Again.

I really need to get a handle on this. I’m frustrating myself to be honest. I know Weight Watchers works. I know it. I have been very successful. So then what is holding me back?

Boredom? Tired of the same foods? Winter blues? Anxiety over work? Busy schedule? Yup.

But the biggest issue is the truth.

The truth is I’m unhappy about being a turtle. I know it is the healthy way to lose weight, but it’s starting to really wear on my patience. Actually, it has worn me down to the point that I’ve allowed my self to be the Hare. To gain back weight I worked so hard to lose. It’s all my own doing. I don’t like being the turtle.

So, what am I going to do about it?

I’m going to focus on my goal and what I really want. I’m being intensional.

I know Weight Watchers works.

I am reminding myself everyday that the Tortoise ALWAYS wins the race. I am the tortoise. I can outsmart the Hare – I’ve done it before and I’ll do it again. How?

1. Tracking – everything
2. Focusing on ME again
3. I’m going to frame a cute picture of a turtle and put it above my desk to remind me that turtles are AWESOME
4. I’m going to revert back to the foods I ate when I was successful
5. I’m going to exercise more – I mean it this time 🙂
6. I’m going to be accountable to myself and you – because we all matter and I want to be a good role model
7. I want to WIN THE RACE!

Spoiler Alert to the original fable: The Tortoise won. Why? Because he paced himself and knew if he was consistently moving forward he would achieve his goal to finish the race.

I AM A TURTLE!

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