When do you rethink your timeline?

I've often heard it said that in order to make a dream into a goal, you have to define when. While losing weight, that can be a bit tricky. The thing is, sometimes it doesn't matter what you do, the scale doesn't show you the numbers you want. It's better to focus on what you are doing and how you are acting then on an external thing like the scale.

But, let's be real. If you're losing weight, you want to see those numbers go down. I certainly have a number in mind as my initial goal for weight loss. So, what about the timeline?

First of all, let's get up to date on my weight loss. The observant among you may have noticed that I haven't mentioned my last few weigh ins. That's because they've been pretty unexciting. The first month, I lost 2.4 - 2.8 pounds every week. Then, there was that week that I gained.

The week after that I lost 1.0, then gained 1.6, lost 2.6 and lost 1.4. So, I've been bouncing around a little bit, with a general downwards trend. After 9 weeks, I've lost 12.4 pounds in total. A bit frustrating since I hit 10 pounds after 4 weeks, but down is good.

This does mean I have to give my self a reality check. I haven't talked about time lines much on this blog, but have thought about it. One thing that I was hoping for was to reach 190 by August 6. That would have put me at the weight I got married at in time for my fifth anniversary. That also means I need to lose 41.4 pounds in the next 19 weeks.

Realistically, I'm not sure I can expect that to happen anymore. It's not outside the realm of possibility, but fact is, that would necessitate losing an average of over 2 pounds until then. While this is possible, I also don't want to set myself up for disappointment. If I'm at 200 by my anniversary, it will still be a great accomplishment and I know I'll be at my goal well before my sixth anniversary.

It's a tough balancing act, but I need to focus on the things I have control over, and the scale is not one of those things. Don't get me wrong. This isn't meant to be a downer post. I do think I can hike up a mountain and ride my bike (with chariot) up a steep hill by the summer. Those are the things I have control over. The weight loss I just have to let happen.