Tenacity

It's the word of the week for me. If you go to the dictionary and look it up it gives you this definition:

"The quality or state of being tenacious. Synonyms: perseverance."

Well that doesn't explain a lot, does it? However, if we go look up tenacious, you get this definition:

"Holding fast. Persistent. Stubborn. Not easily pulled asunder. Synonyms: steadfast, purposeful."

Do you get it? I'm about to tell you the big ole' secret about diet and exercise. The secret that all those really athletic assholes have been hiding from you all these years. You know, what it takes to be skinny and in fabulous shape. Are you ready for it? Tenacity. That's it. Woohoo the big secret has been revealed. What? Is it not what you wanted to hear? Me either. The longer I'm at this though, the more I know it to be true. Repeat after me. Tenacity. That is the answer to it all. It is literally the only difference between the people who succeed at weight loss and those who don't.

This is the truth, peeps.  It pains me too.

We've been at this thing for a little over 10 weeks now. I recently received some feedback about our blog. I was told that it's hard to believe we haven't "given up" by now since we work so hard and lose weight so slowly. Let's be real though. Some of those weeks we've done horrible with our eating. Some of them we have barely exercised. And yes, even a few of them we have gained some weight. Give up though? No way! How can we ever reach our goals if we stop? We have to have tenacity. Staying power. It's the only way we'll accomplish the goals we've set up for ourselves. Also, it's the only way to become one of the skinny, in shape people insead of becoming some "blog-writing jackass who quit trying and gained back all the weight she lost." It's one way or the other. Either you have the tenacity to see it through or you don't.

This week has kicked my ass already and it's only Tuesday. I'm not joking. Yesterday's run was so incredibly, ridiculously hard. [I don't even have it in me for a "that's what she said" joke!]. Then I got home and The Shred was tough too. Finally, I'm ready for bed and my three year old thought it would be fun times to stay up for hours and hours on end screaming. When he finally did fall asleep, my two year old decided it was her turn. [Don't ask why I had kids so close in age, because I have not a clue what I was thinking]. I'm not sure exactly how much sleep I got, but I can sum it up in two words: not enough. Then today, I had the dentist appointment from hell. Seriously, am I the only one who thinks dentists are total sadists? Maybe it's just MY dentist? Either way, three hours in a dentist chair made me feel like I needed a drink or ten. And of course, I can't do that, because we're on an alcohol ban right now. [Why oh why?]

Oh Sailor, why have I forsaken you?

Needless to say, I'm giving this week the double bird [and I'm not talkin' turkey here]. Wednesday better be an improvement or I may just flip out. Tenacity. Must have tenacity. I don't want to work out tonight, but I'm going to. I want to go hog down a gallon or so of ice cream and wash it down with some Sailor Jerry, but I'm not going to. Tenacity. And you know what? If I did go home and eat myself into a food coma, it doesn't really matter because I'd just pick myself up tomorrow and start over. Tenacity. I've come too far to turn back now.