The Accountability Factor

8 Weeks
19 Teams of 4 Men and Women
1,067 POUNDS Lost

Kingman's Biggest Loser challenge came to a close last Wednesday with GREAT success for so many contestants.  My team landed in the middle of the bunch, which is a fine place as far as I'm concerned.  We all dropped pounds.  We all made healthy changes to our lives.  I managed to maintain a loss each week.  Well, there was one week that I only showed a 1/4 pound loss.. which rounded to a good ol' goose egg.  I didn't gain though - That was my personal goal: To NOT show a gain during the competition.  And I did it :)
My Totals ~
12 Pounds GONE
Measurements (well, check back this evening.. I'll add them in once I get home to my record book..)  I've lost some inches.. That much I know for sure.

The past seven days.. *sigh*  THAT was the Biggest Challenge so far.  The "Don't let my team down!" is gone.  The pressure of another person looking at the number on the scale is gone.  The accountability falls on ME.. and that has generally been very counter-productive in the past.  My mental body image doesn't exactly match the 'me' I see in the mirror (however, it is getting closer).. so, my head says, "Sure you can have another bowl of mac-n-cheese.  Oh, and a brownie, sure.  That's okay too.  Heck, have another 'cause they are SO Yummy!"  But, in my heart, I know I cannot continue with the "food rebellion" of the past week.  I need to get back to the healthier habits of the previous eight weeks.  The healthier habits that were soooooo much easier to stick with when I had my team counting on me, when it was more than just me I had to answer to.
I won't lie.  I very seriously debated on whether or not I'd step on the scale this morning.  It is Wednesday after all.  And, for the last eight weeks that meant a weigh-in.  I wasn't sure I had the courage to see how my rebellious week had effected me.  If you only knew the treats I indulged in.. the extra helpings.. the late night snacking..  I did it though.  I woke up and got on the scale like I'd done every week for the last eight weeks for my team.  The only difference was that this time I woke up and got on the scale for me, and for my family, for my children.  I did it so I would know what I needed to do to get back to where I'd been, and to take the first step to continue on the path that had only begun with the Biggest Loser challenge.  The real challenge started last Wednesday, the Solo challenge if you will.  The hard part for me is continuing on when the only person I really have to answer to is me. 
When I stepped on my Wii Fit scale and the wonderfully mean and sarcastic machine dramatically said, "OH!".. I was scared.  I was bracing myself for a big gain.  I ran a mental checklist of all the sweets and carb-laden meals I'd eaten, that Pepsi I'd gulped down, all the "off limit" foods I'd consumed.. I took a deep breath and waited for the line to stop going up. And it stopped lower than I'd expected! It did go up from last Wednesday, but only up 2 1/2 pounds.  I can get that off easy enough.  *relieved sigh*  I didn't derail my progress as badly as I thought. 

I CAN do this.  I CAN make healthy choices.  And when I indulge my sweet tooth, like I know I will from time to time,  I can move forward.  I can do this for me, for my health, for my family.

So, onwards I go.