Let's Talk Monday (Day 90)

Monday is the quintessential diet start day. Countless times have we stood in front of our calendar on a Monday, took a deep breath, and said to ourselves: "Day one. Let's try again."

Let's talk Monday for a minute.

For some people Monday's the hardest day. After a weekend full of the things that didn't get done during the week, Monday feels like another weight on the already too-heavy load we carry. For others, Monday is an easy day. We're addicted to starting over and that means we're addicted to Mondays - even if we know (and may already be planning) that we will probably give up again by Wednesday.

Here's the thing: Not every day is Monday. We can't live our lives for Monday any more than we can healthfully live our lives for Fridays. At some point, you've got to stop starting over. Time marches on without you if you're always living on day one.

In the last 90 days I've gained 40 pounds. I don't like that, not a single bit. But it's my own fault. I trapped myself with Mondays. "I'll start on Monday" I said to myself. On Monday I stood with renewed resolve and by Wednesday all I wanted was cake - so I had a giant piece with the justification that I'd "been good." On Friday I felt awful about Wednesday and so I had another overly large portion of something to cheer myself up. Saturday and Sunday are the weekend and I'd already screwed up again so I might as well throw it all to the wind. "I'll start again on Monday."

Sound familiar?

In June, when I hit the 80-pounds-down mark, I felt invincible. I started training for the marathon, gained some numbers on the scale, and felt way less invincible. I injured myself in August and felt like a flop. It was like all the work I'd done for 8 long months had been for nothing!

I wanted to think my weight was just a numbers problem. Get the numbers right in your food, get the numbers right on the scale, and "Voila!" You're fixed. It's so much more than that, though. It's understanding that you only get one "day one" when you make a change. Every single day counts. Every decision matters. It's learning to find joy in the right decisions. It's learning the terrain of your own subconscious so you know where all the pitfalls are. It's learning how to change your entire mental economy.

It's learning that Monday is just Monday and what you do with today added to what you did with yesterday and what you'll do with tomorrow is what really counts. That's why it's okay that I've gained back 40 pounds. Not ideal, not the goal, certainly not a trend I want to continue. But not the end of the world either because in the larger timeline, I'm still 40 pounds closer to where I want to be. And either way, I can still make today a step closer to my goals.

Here's to Monday, for what it's worth. Another fresh week, but not another day one.