Weight Loss Is Making Me Bipolar

It's true. Weight loss makes me totally feel bipolar. Well, correction: weight loss in and of itself doesn't make me bipolar, but the whole journey of it all certainly does.

This journey is a series of frustrating days of either not seeing the scale move, or watching it move in the wrong direction, interrupted by days of the scale suddenly doing what you're wanting it to do, new sizes fitting, and other non-scale victories. On a day-to-day, and sometimes even week-to-week basis, things seem to have stalled. The scale gets stuck on a number, and occasionally even floats upward a little. The jeans that seemed loose a week ago feel a little snug today. Discouragement and frustration with the current plateau sets in. Then, out of nowhere, the scale drops suddenly. The loose jeans start to literally fall off. Elation and excitement takes over, making the frustration totally dissipate...until the next plateau begins the cycle all over again. See? I told you. Bipolar.

One might think that this insane constant cycle of emotions was detrimental to the process. I did. In fact, I have spent quite a bit of time (unsuccessfully) trying to figure out ways to keep myself encouraged during the spells of plateau and frustration. I try to convince myself to "keep my chin up" and all that other stuff we tell ourselves and each other when things aren't looking so good for the journey. However, while it's a bit maddening to feel myself on this crazy cycle of emotions, after reflecting on them, I really think they're totally necessary for me personally in this journey.

Here's what I know about those times of frustration and discouragement: I always hit a point where it frustrates me so much that I begin to fight. I fight for ways to bust through the plateau. I push myself harder during workouts. I more closely watch what I'm putting into my mouth. I become absolutely DETERMINED to get out of the position I've been stuck in and see the number on that scale MOVE ALREADY! And you know what? It works every single time. Had I not hit that level of utter frustration, I wouldn't be pushing the way that I'm pushing. I wouldn't be moving the scale the way it should be moving.

Is it possible to keep that level of determination and dedication without the plateaus and frustration? I'm sure. But for me, right now, I'm embracing them as part of my journey, part of the process, and as a necessary catalyst to ultimately get me to my goal. Does that mean the next one won't frustrate me, drive me nuts, and make me totally bipolar? I sure hope not.