Progress: the process of improving or developing something over a period of time

The last week and a half has taught me something about myself, well actually several somethings about my self.  The biggest one is this:  I hate progress.  I like results. I like finishing things.  I don't actually enjoy progress.  Progress is slow, often boring, and did I mention slow?  

Week one went well.  I lost almost 4 pounds and my weight loss at 1.5 weeks was already 5 pounds. I worked out 5 of 7 days (and I had an anniversary and some super sore muscles in there).  I'm completely pleased with the results I'm getting. Just not with how slowly it's all happening! Especially since the losing weight part seems to be sucking all the time I have for improving/finding Michelle.  Seriously, who has time to bake something new and amazing, that you can't eat, when you have to find time to work, play with kids, and work out?  Who has time to make Christmas cards when you can just order them on-line???  I think my quest to find me may have been too ambitious.  Mostly because I thought I would be able to work on it all at once.  And that's clearly not possible. 

So my revised plan is this:  work on eating healthily and working out, hit goal weight, then slowly start working on a fun craft/baking project. I'm going to have to take it one thing at a time.  Gah.  I already said I hate progress, right?  

In terms of 21 day fix, here's what I learned in week one:

1.  I have muscles I didn't even know I had. They hurt. A lot.  Walking up and down stairs to go work out was not fun.  Not even a little. 

2.  I am not meant to be a carnivore.  I cannot eat meat once a day, much less 4 times a day!  I'm working on my vegetarian protein options (greek yogurt, eggs and black bean burgers). 

3.  Greek yogurt is my best friend. 

4.  I don't really miss carbs. It's funny because I LOVE carbs. But the eating plan for the program hasn't made me miss them. 

5.  Sometimes I cheat.  And it's okay.  I'm still losing weight. I just don't cheat majorly and I don't cheat everyday.  Never more than once a day. 

6.  We have got to fix Lila of her grazing habits. She will often see what everyone has on their plate and opt to join them to share. When you are operating at a calorie deficit, sharing isn't as easy as it once was. I've found myself feeling pretty territorial of my berries.  I mean, I only get 2 servings of fruit a day!

7.  Bananas and apples are not the fruits to use your fruit allotment on!  One banana or one apple is both servings!  I feel much happier with berries--I get a lot of those.  

8.  Did I mention I have muscles I didn't even know I had?

9. I'm impatient.  I felt a little discouraged the first few days when I didn't see pounds melting away. I mean I was sweating my butt off, working out muscles I didn't know could be sore, and eating perfectly and nothing.  I felt like giving up.  But I didn't.  And I'm glad I stuck it out. I need to remember that in the coming weeks.  

10. I was too embarrassed to take before and after photos.  I know I shouldn't be.  But I was. So I didn't.  And that's okay. I know my friends will understand. 

11.  I'm never going to make it 7 days straight working out.  Life happens. You have an anniversary, your 3 year old gets sick, you feel less than 100%.  Life happens. And that's okay.

12.  I don't need to look like the fitness instructor. I just want to look like I work out.  

13.  I hate progress!  I wish results were faster. I know they can't be. It doesn't stop me from feeling disappointed that this takes so long!