Losing It: A Round of Applause, Please

I just took a little looksee back over my articles from the past 18 weeks. As the queen of self-deprecating humor, it comes as no surprise that I’ve been focusing mostly on the negative side of my journey: why losing weight has been so hard, the pitfalls, the roadblocks, etc. Because, let’s be honest, how fun or funny is it to focus on the positive? Does anyone really want to read 700 words where I toot my own horn and declare my weight loss awesomeness? I am me and I wouldn’t want to read that!

But, alas …

You’ve all been so super-supportive throughout my journey and, if you will be so kind as to indulge me this week, I’d like to give myself a little pat on the back. I’m getting closer to my goal and am hoping that a little bit of positive thinking might be just the thing I need to wrap this thing up.

So, without further ado, my Top 5 “Holy Sh*t, I Did That?” moments along my journey:

5. I did a juice cleanse. Or, I should say, I am in the midst of one right now. You are catching me on day two of my three-day Catalyst Cleanse. Twenty of us decided to embark on this insanity together and I’m so happy about that because I never would have been able to do it alone. We’re drinking six juices a day, in flavors ranging from the delicious cashew/agave/cinnamon/vanilla to the manageable-if-you-hold-your-nose beet/apple/lemon/lime. Comments from the group have ranged from the unhappy (“I may not make it” and “Remind me why I’m doing this?”) to the joyous (“The green one tastes like salad and I love a good salad”) to the unpleasant-but-humorous (“It’s raining out of my a**”). That being said, we are all still going strong and I look forward to reporting on my total weight loss in next week’s column.

4. I learned to like cooking. Not only do I like cooking now, I absolutely HEART cooking! I think it was all about changing my attitude toward cooking, looking at it as a nightly adventure rather than something I had to do to keep my family from starving. I now wholeheartedly enjoy researching healthy recipes, shopping for them, and my husband’s nod of approval when I’ve come across a winner. Making it even more fun along the way has been my recipe swap crew. Join us here for recipes, laughs, and a lot of talk about Yonanas and PB2.

3. I took classes. I am not usually an out-of-the-box kind of person. I like my structure and routine and straying from either makes me anxious. When I started blogging I vowed to try a new exercise class each week in an effort to finally find something that I enjoyed. Highlights were definitely Zumba and Piloxing at the NAC, Gleekercise with Philly Dance Fitness, hot yoga with Angela Travaglini and Maura Manzo, and Body Combat at the Ambler Y. While I loved doing this, it was sometimes tough to find classes that jived with my schedule. To my shock, in the end, running was the thing that won out. Hence …

2. I signed up for a 5K. Never in my life did I think I would sign up for a 5K. Never. Ever. When I started writing and my editor and I were throwing ideas around, I remember her starting a sentence with “Like, if you wanted to train for a 5K …” I stopped listening right then. As if I’m going to run five inches, let alone a 5K. And now, after completing the eight-week Couch to 5K program, I am ready to run the Dash for Organ and Tissue Donor Awareness this Sunday. I’m not really concerned about time, so just crossing that finish line is going to be a HUGE accomplishment for me. Pictures and more to come next week!

1. Realizing that I can do this. I have never been one to challenge myself, because I fear failure and you can’t fail when you don’t really put yourself out there and try. This entire journey has been an experiment in pushing myself outside of my cushy little comfort zone and trying new things. I am realizing that if I push my body I can defy my expectations, and if I adjust my thinking I can learn to enjoy things I previously found unsavory. More on this epiphany when I finally reach my goal weight.

Okay, so this column was not my usual nugget of humor but, like I said, I think I need a little positive energy to get me through until the end. That, and I haven’t chewed solid food in two days so I think my brain is rejecting the notion of putting together coherent sentences. I promise to be back next week with what I’m sure will be a hilarious review of both my cleanse and my run. Stay tuned!

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Robin Raskin blogs about her weight loss journey every Thursday on Be Well Philly. Catch up on the series here, and follow her on Twitter at @RobinRaskin. Join Robin’s Healthy Recipe Swap Facebook group here.