I'm on day 10 of a plateau right now. I have them about every six weeks for 10-15 days or so. 10 days isn't even that long compared to many folks, I know, but it's been long enough that it's starting to wear me down. I know the inevitable whoosh will be glorious, but that only provides so much comfort in the moment when you hop on the scale in the morning and see the same damn numbers AGAIN (or worse, you've gone up). So, I've been ruminating on this experience and trying to give it a framework that's less demoralizing. In the shower this morning, I stumbled on this analogy that helped me reframe the experience: going through a plateau is like being in the middle of a busy season at work.
So I don't know about your job, but in my job, there are periods of relative calm interspersed with periods of INTENSE, DEMANDING WORK. During these busy periods, which can last anywhere from a day to several weeks, it feels like I'm going at a million miles an hour but still no closer to my goals. Even though I know the busy period will pass, in the thick of things, it feels unending. There is stress, of course, but also moments of triumph as I tackle various elements of the projects. Then I realize that even though I finished that part of the project, I can't stop to celebrate, because there's so much more to do. That's demoralizing, even though I know, rationally, that the victory is still solid, it can feel hollow when it doesn't really make a dent in my to do list.
This plateau feels the same way! I'm putting in all this work, and even though I know it will pay off soon, right now it feels unending. I have these moments of triumph where I have a perfect calorie day or run 5k or decline home made brownies, and I feel the rush of victory, only to be disappointed when the scale doesn't immediately reward me.
In both cases, the only way out is to keep putting one foot in front of the other, and putting in the work every day. If I slouch in putting in the effort, I am only delaying my gratification further, because I have to do the work to get the results I want. If I focus on how much there is left to do, or how fruitless any given small step feels, then I'll never be able to finish my big project or get to the next weight loss milestone. It's okay to feel overwhelmed sometimes, but I need to just accept those feelings, give myself the kindness of hot tea or a Tantrum Tuesday rant, and then get right back to work.
This morning, I got up at 5:45, as I have done every Mon/Wed/Fri since June. I hopped on the scale, sighed heavily, and recorded yet another day in the 170.x range. Then, and I ran. I ran a 5k in 38 minutes, which isn't impressive for most but considering I couldn't run 5 minutes at a time when I started running 2 months ago, it's something I'm proud of. I'm going to have a salad for lunch, and I'm going to indulge in taco bell tonight but within my calorie goals. I'm putting in the work, even though it feels stupid and useless right now, because the only way to get through this grueling season is to tackle the tasks I can do RIGHT NOW, TODAY. And if I stick to it, my whoosh will come, and it will be like that glorious moment that my work email inbox is empty and I have a second to breathe.
I'm wishing you all a nice, easy Friday. For those of us with Mon-Fri office job schedules, TGIF. For those of us in plateau land right now, WE CAN DO THIS.
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