Spark the Fire – Weekly Weigh In

This post is actually my weekly weigh in from LAST week.  Since my site was switching servers and I was unable to post, I thought I would share it with you this week.  I didn’t make it to my weigh in due to a work obligation so it all worked out.  Just know that this was actually last week’s topic!  Enjoy!

It was an amazing Weight Watchers meeting tonight. Jacynta, my leader was really “on” and she hit home with me about quite a bit. The shocking 3.6 I gained on the scale is what it is. At home this morning, I was exactly the same so I am chalking it up to “first day” heaviness. I am not going to focus on that because the meeting was SO MUCH MORE than a number on the scale.

As some of you know, the reason I began this journey was to get healthy to hopefully be able to have a baby. Those were the initial “logs” that were put on my fire when I joined Weight Watchers back in January of 2009.

For those of you that know anything about fires, you know that you have to have some good coals in order for your fire to continue burning. Not only do you have to have good coals but you also have to continually add wood and stoke it in order to KEEP the fire from going out.

My initial “logs” on my weight loss fire were the desire to have a baby. Then, other “logs” were put on the fire like having a rockin’ leader, losing my first 25 pounds, losing 50 pounds, and then 100 pounds, shopping in regular sized clothing stores, getting compliments, running a half-marathon and having the confidence that I CAN do this. All of those logs were added gradually to my fire in order to keep it going.

Then, there is the stoking. These are the little things we do to keep our fires going. Things like, saying no when we really want to eat something, walking a few times a week when we don’t want to, training for a half marathon, going to my meetings when I really want to go home and eat dinner. All of these little things also keep the fire going.

Without adding more logs or stoking our weight loss “fires”, they will eventually go out.

Tonight, I challenge you to ask yourself, “Why am I doing this?” What are the big logs that are keeping my fire going. Sometimes, when we start to get discouraged, we need to remember those things and keep our eye on the prize.

This week’s meeting was somewhat emotional for me. Whenever the topic of WHY I am doing this comes up, I get emotional. This journey is so much more than just “to look cute” or “to fit into those jeans.” This is the future of my family. This is one day, a healthy, God given baby.

The next time I look at something unhealthy and want to eat it, or the next time I don’t want to get up and exercise, or the next time I start to let negative thoughts come into my head, I need to remember my fire. Remember that baby who is worth whatever sacrifice I have to give in order to have him/her. I need to keep my eyes focused on the fire so the flames do not go out.

What is your why? What are your “logs” that are on your fire that keep your weight loss journey alive and going? Whatever you do, don’t let the fire smolder and die. You are worth living your dreams!

Success is not the Result of Spontaneous Combustion.  You must set yourself on fire!

Spark the Fire!

 

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  • Camille Duckworth

    sounds like your leader is much more inspiring than Mine.  i think I’ll start just reading about your meetings instead! okay, just kidding, but I’ve had good leaders, great leaders and not so great leaders. Currently she’s more on the not so great side. She is super nice and means well, but she’s quiet, not assertive (to tell people to be quiet so we can hear!) she pretty much just speaks from their little booklet and we are usually done in 15.  I’m not usually inspired unless people on their own choose to speak up.  I also like the log analogy.  I have so many things adding to the fire that at our meeting when she asked what is our motivator…I couldn’t think of just ONE thing…there are LOTS!  And at first I thought maybe that was wrong, but I know it’s not.  That’s what keeps me going because some weeks one motivator might not seem as important as another, so with the other motivators hopefully I keep going strong!  I enjoy your blog. Keep it up and good luck on your family. I can’t imagine my life without my five little munchkins.  I’ve been blessed and someday you will be too! (not that you aren’t blessed in other ways…just sayin as far as the family goes ;)

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      Get a new leader…seriously. That has made all the difference for me. Thanks for your encouragement. I am very blessed!

  • Kristen Garner

    I have read your entire blog but this is my first time commenting because I just started blogging myself. I need to lose almost 100 pounds too, and what sparked my fire was being told I have Insulin Resistance in March, which they believe is a symptom of PCOS. I am only 22 so having a baby isn’t a priority today, but I know it will be one day. I have tried to lose weight in the past, my entire life it feels like, but for all the wrong reasons. Yes, I want to look good, be smaller, and fit into cute clothes, but those weren’t strong enough reasons to keep me motivated long.  Now it is for my health and for my future. To reverse the damage I have done and stop more damage from occurring. Very solid logs if you ask me. Thank you for being an inspiration and sharing your journey with us!

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      You certainly have very solid logs! PCOS is tough for all of us but there is so much support out there. Getting control of your health NOW is a great thing to do for the future! Keep up the good work. And…thanks for commenting. It means the world to me!

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=686733852 Carol Ann Hill

    I find you inspiring, Jennifer.  Your weight loss itself is where I want to be in a year, or however long it’s going to take.  I consider YOU a log – so when I am able to get to our meeting, and I don’t see you OR our leader, it’s a let-down!  We don’t even have to talk.  Just seeing you, and knowing what you’ve done for yourself, and knowing that you continue to do those things, helps me know I CAN do this TOO! 

    I am looking for the rest of my logs right now; they can’t all be in our meeting room!  I have to be able to access them myself, as needed.  One of them is being able to travel easily, without getting worn out the first day on the airplane and walking through airports and such.  I’ll keep you posted… :)   Have a great week!  Vitual hugs, Jennifer.

    (P.S. I wasn’t there this week because of a personal family emergency, but I’ll be there next week.)

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      Thank you Carol! I can honestly say I have never been called a log before and I take that as one of the highest compliments. :) YOU CAN DO THIS! I am going to be attending Jacynta’s meetings in Kennesaw on Friday mornings over the summer so I will miss seeing you but I will be back to Monday night’s in August. Have a very successful summer!

  • Danielle P

    I’m coming from a similar place. I know I want to be a mom one day, but I knew I wasn’t taking care of myself and that had to change. 

    I also have a number of family members,  who also didn’t take care of themselves and died way earlier than they should have. I don’t want to go down that path, and being overweight and having migraines since I was 9, I knew I had to do something. I started WW  a little over a month ago, and I’m learning a lot, it’s great! At our meeting, I find a lot of people are focused on losing weight for appearances. Whatever floats your boat, but then the whole meeting became a fixation on feeling better because you’re smaller, and what part of your body is smaller. I found it a bit disconcerting since the idea is changing your lifestyle and being healthy.

    I’m glad to see there are other WWers out there who aren’t focused on a dress size but are focused on living a fuller life, and being around for their loved ones. 

    For me, my logs are feeling better, hopefully having less or no migraines, and being there for my family, my bf, my pets, and one day my kids :)  

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      Great post! Thanks for sharing. Those are some great logs! I no longer have migraines and it is awesome! Keep up the good work!

  • http://twitter.com/UncommonWine Carrie

    Great post! My reason for wanting to eat healthier and lose weight? Well, I thought it was obvious – to be healthier and lose weight. But it goes deeper than that. It’s the little things I’m experiencing along the way… like actually being able to walk an entire round of golf without being completely winded. To be able to fit into new clothes AND feel comfortable in them. To realize that if I hadn’t been training for a 5k, I probably couldn’t keep up with everyone hiking in Hawaii. Now I can do all these things and I’m anxious to find out what else I’ll be able to do down the line. I don’t want to miss out on life.

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      Focus on the little things and don’t miss out on life. Love that!

  • http://twitter.com/JennMMML Jennifer

    LOVED this post! We’re on a similar path and our motivations are coming from the same place. I’m so happy to have found you. I can’t wait to poke around a little and start following your blog.

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      YEAH! Thanks! I am happy you found me too!

  • http://profiles.google.com/skovach717 Sara Kovach

    What a very inspirational post.  I have really struggled lately with my “why”, and keep sliding a little.  I feel like a yo-yo, up and down each week.  Your post really puts it in perspective!  Thank you so much!!!

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      You are more than welcome! Thanks for reading!

  • flaweddesign

    This post is really interesting! It really makes me think about my reasons for weight loss and what it will hold for my future :) The next time I start thinking negatively or skipping exercise, I will try to remember my fire :) xXx Best of luck!

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      Awesome! Thanks! Good luck to you too!

  • ReinventingLisa

    There are a lot of reasons that are sparking me to lose weight. Besides the fact that I’m at my heaviest weight and generally unhappy, the desire to lead a longer life and feel happy about how I look when I wear something is fueling me to keep going. I’ve never had to lose as much weight as I have to lose now, and I’m 60 something pounds away from my goal weight.

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      Don’t look at the total number. Make small, meaningful goals that are easy to attain. Little by little, the weight will come off! You’ve got this!

  • Keriann Hespeler

    Hi Jennifer! I just recently found your blog and I’m loving it. I wanted to let you know that I started my own blog because of this post. It’s more of a diary for me than a way to share with the world, but just in case people do find it- I wanted you to know that I linked back to your blog as my inspiration. I hope that’s ok! Please let me know if you’d like me to remove it. 

    http://thistimelosingforgood.blogspot.com/

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      LOVE it! You made me cry with your post! Good for you for starting your own blog and being accountable. I can’t wait to read your journey and celebrate along with you! You rock!

  • http://twitter.com/shaynjordan Shay Jordan

    Hi Jennifer! Great blog!  100lbs is an amazing accomplishment!  You are doing amazing.  

    What a great blog you have!  I know on my weight loss journey, every week when I do my weigh in, I ask myself why to remind me of why I’m doing this and to keep me motivated! 

    Thanks for sharing your journey with us!

    • http://www.itsuxtobefat.com Jennifer Swafford

      Thanks so much Shay! I am so glad you find inspiration in my blog and my journey! Stay motivated and pushing forward!