Pushing Through the Discomfort

We spend so much of our lives trying to avoid pain. After all our founding documents give us the freedom in the “pursuit of happiness”. Isn’t trying to find happiness what life is all about?

Nope.

Not even close. 

I feel like a broken record on this here blog when I say that building our character is more important than being happy, and the place that most of that growth happens is in areas of major discomfort and struggle. It seems counter-intuitive to human nature but I believe in seeking out opportunities to face our fears and meet them head on. Lean into the discomfort a little.

So this brings me back to this week, when I finally bought a new scale to replace the one that hasn’t been working for months. I knew I hadn’t been eaten healthfully and I knew my close didn’t fit the same but I hadn’t actually weighed myself since well before my broken foot sidelined my workout routine. Stepping on the scale yesterday was the kick in the butt I needed to do more than just run. I knew I had to change the way I eat.

Now I am not really an over-eater, but I have a massive sweet tooth. I like good, buttery, sweet, fattening foods. I also really like beer, wine and margaritas. I’m addicted to convenient, processed food.

However I have been through Weight Watchers years ago and I know what it takes. So I measured out the right portion of cheerios, peeled that orange and avoided all the crackers and cheese in my house. By dinner I was really hungry and craving my comfort food. We went to Chilis because it was kids eat free night and I stared at the menu.

Normally I would order a margarita and a grilled chicken sandwich. The one with cheese and bacon on it. Or a burger. Or worse, the honey chipotle chicken strips. It really isn’t fair the way they put those macro photos of juicy bacon and cheese and burger all over the menu. 

I kept remembering what the scale said that morning, visualizing it. I really wanted some fries. I tweeted about how uncomfortable this whole thing was and how I needed encouragement. Twitter came through, I ordered the guiltless version of the grilled chicken sandwich and wrote a list of motivations while I waited.

The truth is it tasted pretty good. But the night was far from over, because after we got home and put the kids to bed I just wanted chocolate in the worst way. I grumbled and complained and was generally cranky, but I didn’t eat any of the leftover candy bars or cookies or anything else for that matter.

I pushed through the discomfort and went to bed with my stomach rumbling.

This morning the scale read 2.5 lbs less. I know that’s kind of a fluke thing since I’m just getting started, and I know one day is not much on this long journey, but that’s enough to keep me motivated for today.

Author: Sarah

Mom of three. Triathlete. View all posts by Sarah