Dear OLofWL ~ I can’t even begin to tell you how discouraged I am.  Soooo discouraged.  I got on the scale this morning, and I’ve only lost 2 pounds over the past two weeks.  This is slower than molasses!  I don’t know if I can take it!!! Slap me, kick me – please say something!  Make me feel better!  ~ Desperate

Dear Desperate ~ Call me crazy, but I think permanently removing 2 pounds in 2 weeks is great!!!   I’ll do my best to put this into perspective so that you can get a grip, which will ultimately lead you to feeling better.

Perspective is a good thing!

What does it take to ‘drop a pound?’  Each pound of body fat equates to 3,500 calories.  (More or less, but close enough to use as our guide.)  In order to permanently remove one pound of fat per week, you need to burn off 500 calories more than you are eating per day – that’s 500 calories per day for 7 days.  500 x 7 = 3,500.

This is called a ‘calorie deficit.’  You can imagine that you are eating a certain amount of food, while burning more calories than those foods add up to, affording an opportunity for your body to miraculously dip into your fat reserve to make up the difference.

I think one pound a week is a reasonable amount of weight to let go of.   More than reasonable, something glorious to celebrate (and not with food, please!).

Can I make you feel better?  I can only deliver the facts about burning calories, and offer a healthy, honest and ‘light’ perspective. So go ahead, give yourself a pat on the back for making truly remarkable progress!.

Take it in!  Say to yourself, “Wow one pound per week is an accomplishment; even 1/2 a pound per week is significant.   Even 1/4 pound per week means that I am dipping into my fat reserve and moving in the ‘right’ direction.  I feel good!!!”

Can you look down the road toward Sveltesville and see that it matters not how fast you arrived there?

Seeing things in a new ‘lite,’ are you?  Any aHA moments happening out there?  If you, “Desperate,” are having an epiphany of any magnitude, please share with us.  That goes for those of you who are reading this, as well.

Is dropping one pound a week something to celebrate or what???  ~ OLofWL

PS:  Have you noticed that people now say “drop pounds” instead of “lose weight.”  If you lose it, you will find it.  If you drop it, will you pick it up???  What words most resonate with you, regarding weight loss?  Oops, I mean the dropping of the pounds?  🙂

Spread the word … NOT the icing!

Janice
wise * fun * utterly useful

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