One Does not Equal One

I want for my efforts to equal my outcomes.
Doesn't everybody?!?!

I want for one great day of wise eating choices to equal one pound lost.
I want for a really great, powerful workout to measure up to lifting heavier the very next time.

This, you may already know, is not the case.

Changing your body, in any way, takes time.
It can seem like 5lbs just found it's way to you over the weekend, but I have some experience in this, and it's probably a little bit of body fat and a whole lotta' water weight.  By mid week, you may be only up a true pound.
Sucks, I know.

The same goes for weight loss and muscle gain.
Only it takes a little more time for these outcomes.

Time.
That's it.

We live in a world of instant gratification.
We're bored.
We're bored of being bored.

The world is more connected than ever, and yet we can't even watch a movie, eat snacks and play on our tablets without having our phones in our hands too.

"I've decided that today I'm going to eat well, and tomorrow that damn scale had better reflect my efforts!"
Me.
This was/is totally me.

*Step off scale
*Step on again
*Lean slightly left/right/forward

I used to do this.
Almost every day.

I don't anymore, because as long as my clothes fit, I'm not really interested in a brief moment on the scale setting the tone for the rest of my day.

But for most of my life, I've expected immediate and, obviously, lasting results.
This time though, I've accepted that there will be setbacks.  Failures.  Bad days.  Maybe several bad days in a row, that by the end have my jeans stretching out a liiiiiiiiiittle bit past their recommended stretchiness.

I've accepted this.
The majority of the days are pretty good.  Mindful eating.  Calculated choices.  A good workout and then a decent bedtime.

And over time, my choices have amounted to some fairly staggering changes in my physique and more importantly in my abilities.

I know it can be hard when a plateau shows up.
For a few weeks, or maybe even months.
I know it can be so very frustrating when you're tracking foods, getting in workouts and nothing is changing.
I truly do know.
A hundred Monday start overs, I know.

Trust the process and be patient.
There isn't a person in the world who's been successful at weight loss or muscle gain or in any major change to their body, who hasn't experienced the exact same frustrations that you might be facing right this very second.
I guarantee that.

I remember when I was a newer runner.
I would get out a few times a week for a 5km run, and each time it was difficult.
I may have gotten faster, or maybe the hill didn't seem quite so daunting, but nevertheless, it was difficult.
Then I would see another runner out, and think to myself, why does it look easy for them?
I've been a regular exerciser (exerciser?  One who exercises?  No idea...) for my entire adult life and throughout most of my teen years too, and in all that time, I can honestly say that exercise has never really gotten easier.
I have most definitely become stronger and more efficient, but it isn't easier.
If it's easy, is it worth it?

So that person I saw running, who was making it look easy? 
Those folks I see at the gym who can make enormous weights seemingly fly up over head?
It wasn't easy for them.
They just maybe had been at it for a longer time.