Maintaining Goals While on Your Period; 75 Hard Challenge Update; Instant Gratification Issues
Getting your period when you are trying to lose weight sucks.
When you step on the scale to see the bloating has caused your weight to go up by a few pounds is so discouraging. During this time, you have no idea what your efforts in the gym and in the kitchen are actually doing. You question, “has it been worth it?”
My second week of the 75 Hard Challenge was met with my period.
First, trying to take a daily picture was extremely difficult for me. I am someone that bloats heavily. I had to truly fight myself on not getting discouraged, because I was working so hard.
The other thing I had to fight were my cravings. I go into hibernation mode while on my period. It is a habit I wish I was stronger at breaking, but as any mental excuse we give ourselves, we say it’s okay to do. Our hormones are tricky little B’s who convince us we need to give into every craving we have. You also find yourself a bit more sluggish and tired so you eat more to stay awake. Which leads me to the next complication of your period.
I had no time to be tired because I had to exercise twice a day. There was no room to take a nap in the mix of everything I had to take care of.
I was truly fighting my body’s natural urge to want to digress on progress.
The fact of the matter is, it was only my second week of this new lifestyle, and there wasn’t going to be a change regardless.
We have such an issue with instant gratification with the way life is structured these days. We expect results to be shown and our needs to be met, in the moment, or we move on.
When you work so hard trying to accomplish a goal, you have changed your entire approach on life, and feel really good about what you have put in, you expect to see progress. However, you need to flip your mindset here. Progress is the way in which you have changed. Progress is working hard, creating a new approach, and mentally fighting urges.
You don’t need the results you are after, to prove to yourself you have changed. You look at what you are doing daily as a way to prove to yourself you are different.
I had to remind myself it takes time and my efforts are not being lost.
I stayed focused on the task at hand. Having guidelines to follow and something to always to think about, really took away from my natural period symptoms and urges.
I didn’t step on the scale because it just wasn’t necessary or reflective. When I took my picture, I didn’t review it.
I focused on what I needed to be proud of. Which was how quickly I stepped into this lifestyle change, how I was handling my new habits and exiling the old ones. I had a complete 180 on my health and fitness regimen. I focused on my routine instead of results and instant gratification.
Getting through my period was actually a lot easier than I thought it was going to be.
I stayed focused on the task at hand
Mental strength to decipher between hunger and period cravings
Stayed on track with my routine and daily plan
When I ate proper foods, I was fueled, energized, and not sluggish
It was the best I had felt during this time, as long as I can remember.
