A day in my low carb shoesโฆ A story about self acceptance and learning to be HAPPY on your weight loss journey, fully illustrated with thought provoking emotion โ and something that will make you laugh your socks off!
Yesterday was symbolic for me in so many ways. It was also filled with useful lessons and little things that make life easier, that I want to pass along to you.
I started the day off in a bad mood.
Scratch that, I was downright crabby.
Iโd had a bad day the day before, woke up at 1:30am, and was hit with a few snide/negative notes & comments to deal with right off the bat. ๐
I took care of work tasks (I work from home, so a 2am start time doesnโt freak anyone out -lol) and made breakfast then decided to get out for a morning walk with my great dane. For the exercise, and also to walk off some steam.
Slim was in a particularly frisky (no, naughty!) mood himself, likely playing off my own irritability, and at one point we both turned the wrong way at the same time and I wrenched my shoulder and neck. Fine, add THAT to the list! ๐ Totally my fault of course, dog training 101: be in control.
The one GOOD thing so far was my breakfast (Iโll show it to you in a second, it was beautiful!), but at this point I was chalking it up to the second bad day in a row, and it wasnโt even 8amโฆ
Turning Things Around (or: Itโs All In Your Head)
Iโm not going to tell you that all of your problems or frustrations are just figments of your imagination. Rude people are very real. Pain and discomfort is very real.
Bad moods are VERY real, lol.
Your world and your thoughts are all about perception, though โ your perception, and your reaction. That doesnโt make those things any less real, but it DOES mean we have the power to switch gears, change the direction, and turn a bad day around.
Your power IS all in your head. You own it.
Find Your Happy!
When Iโm having a sh***y day, I like to just STOP and switch to things that make me happy. That used to be food. I used to tune out the whole world and lock myself in my room with an entire pizza or an entire pint (or two) of ice cream and watch suspense flicks. That used to be my thing. I do still love suspenseful movies. ๐
But since ending my toxic relationship with food, Iโve had to find other forms of entertainment, fulfillment and comfort. Iโm talking about โimmediate gratificationโ here, because in the moment (the bad moments) you need something that helps you get grounded again, or a way to redirect things. Itโs calledโฆ coping.;)
Getting healthy meant changing a lot of old habits and usual routines, not just my food choices. As silly as it might sound I had to sit down and make a list of things I enjoyed, or might enjoy, and new things I should maybe try.
That was a list that would start to shape the new me.
My list started out with simple things like sunshine, reading, traveling, FUN time with friends, trying new things, new clothes (exploring a whole new style!), and brisk walks โ which I found is a great way to pound out stress, instead of stuffing my face.
Making that list was the smartest thing Iโve ever doneโฆ
It gave me things to turn to, other than food. It was a slow process, not some magic overnight solution, but any true life change is a processโฆ and itโs the process itself that holds the magic.
Itโs the process that shapes you, strengthens you, shows you what youโre really made of. Itโs where you learn all the things that really matter.
Imagine if you could wake up tomorrow and be perfectly lean and healthy, without putting in any time or effort. You just wake up tone and strong and lean and beautiful.
That would be cool, right? ๐ Sure!
But you would ruin it in short time, because YOU are still the same person you were the night before, with the same habits and the same issues. Maybe you think if someone would just hand it to you that you could maintain it easily.
Thatโs not true. Itโs not how human beings operate. Weโre creatures of habit.
Embrace the process and the journey, because your NOW is your life.
I know it feels like being 8 years old in April and you canโt wait for Christmas, but you canโt live in your future. You have to live in today. And if your today is crappy and full of negatives, find ways to get your smile back!
Experiencing My Journey
Yesterday I took a little trip. A real life physical trip, that was symbolic of my weight loss journey. The day before Iโd had a relapse in my resolve and felt like I would always be struggling with these stupid food issues & mind battles.
Tip: Erase the words โalwaysโ and โneverโ from your vocabulary.
Always is never true, and never is always false. ๐
Here I am, at the highest point in my area, where an old rickety fire tower stands another 100 feet up in the air above that. Looking up, I have no idea if I can make it. That looks dangerous, lol (it was!).
Iโm scared, excited, unsure, but willing to give it a try at leastโฆ
I did make it, as you can see. ๐ This photo put me in mind of my health goals, and the climb itself was symbolic of my weight loss journey.
Making it to the top gave me a taste of what it will feel like to REACH those goals.
It seemed daunting. I had to check it all out first. Once I was 100% committed, all I could think about was reaching the top. I started off strong, running up the first three flights of rickety old wooden stairs with hardly any railing.
Thatโs how it all started when I first went low carb too. I was afraid to start. I did tons of research. Then I dove ALL in and just DID it.
By the 4th of 12 flights the heights started getting to me. I felt my stomach roll, my head spin a bit, and all of a sudden I was insanely aware of how far the ground was below me and how little railing there was to hold on to.
There were tricky steps and I was getting lightheaded. Donโt fall, donโt fall, donโt fall was going through my mind. Once I became aware of the problems, I had to โpositive talkโ myself through the rest of the climb. I had to stop and take a break and then restart several times.
I started out only aware of the top (the result), but at this point all of the dangers and fears hit me. The boards were old, some of them were replaced with new boards, my mind processing that it meant the older boards might give out.
Not far into my weight loss journey I hit that same point.
I got over the fear, I โran the first few flights like it was nothing,โ and then I got smacked with reality: old habits mixed with new habits (just like those boards), fear of failure, thinking I could do it but no longer totally confident I would ever make it.
Maybe here is good enough.
NO โ youโve made it this far! Keep goingโฆ
Imagine Your Success
I often imagine myself in amazing shape, lean and healthy and glowing, as a means of renewing my motivation. That old saying of keep your eye on the goal proves really helpful in any long-term undertaking.
Getting to experience that in a sort of physical simulation yesterday was powerful, and motivating. Going through all the steps of excitement, fear, uncertainty, commitment, questioning my commitment, pushing myself forward anyway.
How it FELT to reach my goal (the top) was amazing!
The climb itself was exhilarating, FUN, had my adrenaline pumping, and was such a great way to get out of the house and blow off some stress. ๐
I do NOT recommend climbing fire towers on private property though, lol.
Pushing my limits and facing my fears is part of my own personal journey right now.
We each have to find our own path.
Those 12 flights of rickety wooden steps up the fire tower and back down again were a great workout too. ๐ But letโs backtrack because there are other things in my yesterday that I want to share with youโฆ
A Day In My Low Carb Life
I woke up at 1:30am and stayed up until 10:30pm, without my usual afternoon nap even, so it was an exceptionally long day. After starting off frustrated and annoyed, and trying to walk it off with a disobedient dane (which just made me more crabby, lol) I decided to do something different for breakfast: make blueberry waffles.
I love blueberry waffles. I used to go off plan just to get them from Waffle House โ and curl up in bed and watch a good movie with them.:)
I canโt even count the number of pounds Iโve lost since Waffle House took blueberry waffles off the menu. What is up with THAT?!
Fortunately I had New Hope Mills Low Carb Pancake & Waffle Mix on hand, along with big fresh blueberries I picked this summer, so I broke out the waffle iron and whipped up a big batch for breakfast.
Even with 35 grams of blueberries added, they were only 4.5 net carbs per serving. The batch made 5 big THICK & FLUFFY delicious waffles (2 servings). ๐ YUM!
I made two meals out of that. Two breakfasts.:)
I used Natureโs Hollow Sugar Free Maple Syrup on them too.
Those beautiful waffles made me smile. ๐
Itโs okay to have foods you love (Iโm learning this!) without having an unhealthy relationship or obsession with them, and there are tons of healthy low carb options. That pancake/waffle mix has great ingredients, btw.
That helped break up my usual morning routine, and was the beginning of turning my mood around โ and the first of many more smiles to come.
A few hour later, after taking care of work & obligations, I headed off to the fire tower on the mountain. It just so happens that my FAVORITE giant rooster is right on the way to that tower. ๐
Itโs Beyoncรฉ!! ๐ LOLโฆ If youโve never heard that story, this will make you laugh your socks off: And Thatโs Why You Should Learn To Pick Your Battles
See that big smile on my face?:) Every time I see this rooster Iโm reminded of that hilarious story, and how I laugh till I cry every single time I read it โ still! haha
My next big happiness boost happened because in that same little middle-of-nowhere town is a Hardeeโs! My own Hardeeโs has been under construction for months, so I stopped at this one for my FAVORITE big juicy low carb cheeseburger. ๐
Are you seeing a trend here? ๐
I had to STOP focusing on the things that were annoying & stressing me, and start doing/focusing on the things I enjoy โ the things that make me smile.
I was exhausted by early evening after being up since 1:30am, but still had to get groceries โ and even make an extra trip to Wal-Mart for frozen raspberries, which my little locally owned grocery does not carry for some nutty reason.
I got home with all intentions of crashing early, and made a super quick zero carb dinner of two Oscar Mayer Smokies dipped in mustard.
As I was eating those and putting away the groceries, dragging of course, I noticed on my Fitbit that I had almost 7,500 steps in for the day. Nice!, I thought. Then I started thinking about how I hadnโt slept more than 3 or 4 hours at a time for more than a week, and how anxious Slim had been lately (heโs a nervous sort anyway, lol)โฆ
I decided another mile or so walk wouldnโt hurt, I could surely pull it off โ even tired โ and maybe Slim and I both would sleep better.
Besides, feeling my Fitbit vibrate with โGOAL ACHIEVED!โ makes me feel like a million bucks so I sucked it up and threw on my walking shoesโฆ
We did it! And I reached that 10,000 step goal, for yet another victory and big happy smile to top off my day. ๐
I wound down on the back deck in my PJโs after that with a hot decaf coffee and a quick snack of pecan halves. It was only 1 net carb (30 grams) but pecans are very high fat, so itโs a filling little snack.
I love my back deck. Itโs my โme spaceโ and my favorite spot to wind down and read a great book or visit with a good friend โ or just BE. ๐
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Hereโs My MyFitnessPal Diary for Yesterday:
Macronutrients: Simple Explanation Of Low Carb Macros
How To Get A Net Carbs Column in MyFitnessPal
Calories: 1777
Net Carbs: 19
Total Carbs: 28
Protein: 74 Grams
79% Fat, 17% Protein
Exercise: 2 Brisk Walks, 3 Miles total
Fitbit Steps: 10,836
Water: 72 ounces
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It felt GREAT to get some solid exercise in yesterday, with two good fast-paced walks plus the climb up and down that crazy fire tower (lol).
I was so happily exhausted between the exercise and the 21 hour FULL dayโฆ
I slept 7 full hours last night โ for the first time in over a week. ๐
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The next time youโre feeling disappointed or discouraged, or youโre just having a bad day, try switching gears and doing something POSITIVE.
Find something that makes you smile, something for YOU, something healthy or fun or delicious โ or all of the above!
For me, facing my fears and achieving something COOL filled me with a happiness and pure JOY that didnโt leave room for the negativity I was full of before thatโฆ
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One of the BEST (and easiest!) cures when youโre feeling downโฆ is a sense of accomplishment. Tackle something you CAN control or achieve, right now.
Youโll feel amazing for it!
One of the things Iโm going to do this weekend is clean out my closets.
All of them. ๐ฏ
Itโs a huge undertaking that Iโve been avoiding. Did you see that yellow sweater I threw on yesterday? It swallows me whole now that Iโve lost so much weight.
Cleaning out my closets (which are a total disaster btw, lol) is not just about accomplishing a big taskโฆ itโs about accepting that Iโm a new size now, that Iโm going to STAY this new size, and about finally โletting goโ of the larger me โ and HER favorite things (and favorite sweaters).
Another symbolic challenge, during which I will not only achieve the physical task โ but also break mental and emotional ties between my old life and my new life. My old self and my new self. And my new self will have NEW favorite sweaters. ๐
Consider what you can do NOW to feel GREAT about who you are TODAY. Because today IS your life. Every choice you make in โevery nowโ creates who you will be tomorrow, and the next tomorrow, and a year of tomorrowโs from now.
I am going to COMPLETE my closet mission this weekendโฆ
I challenge you to a task too, one that is symbolic of or related to your weight loss journey, that allows you to prove to yourself that you are indeed amazingly awesome NOW โ and fully capable of reaching the top.
(please donโt climb a fire tower! lol)
With love and gratitude, because you keep me goingโฆ
Best,
Lynn Terry,
aka @LowCarbTraveler
p.s. Do you have 5 minutes to watch this video? Itโs full of symbolism and double meaning too, and ironically it came on here in my office just as I was writing the last words of this post for you.
So suiting, as we just stepped into Fall, which is such a great time for fresh starts and renewing our goals. You can apply this song however it speaks to you mostโฆ
Song: โThe Fallโ by Imagine Dragons, on the Smoke & Mirrors album
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Discount Code: LOWCARBTRAVELER

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Glad you found a way out of your mood! Your post was interesting to read. Iโve been thinking a lot today about my life. Every time I have gone low carb and gotten the food under control I start thinking about other parts of my life. I think Iโm not so consumed with being miserable with myself that it opens my mind up to see other areas of my life that I have just let exist. Iโm wondering if this is why Iโve failed at LC so many times because if Iโm not LCing then all I think about and plan is what diet to do. Now I started fresh with LC last Monday so today is day 5 (down 3#!) and today Iโve had all these thoughts about changes I need/want to make in my life. Change gives me anxiety. Iโm learning to be kinder to myself though. Itโs hard to get out of my comfort zone. We only live one life though so make it the best we can.
Thanks for sharing your deep thoughts! It looks like someone took the picture of you and the rooster! Iโm hoping it was Joe! When I read you were sad I was hoping he didnโt break your heart. Us LCers would have to beat him up! Lol JK
You bring up a good point, Barb. Maybe โ just maybe โ some of us NEED something to fix, or something to stress over even. Iโm not sure. Iโm going to do some thinking on that one myself, because I can relate!
Iโve found myself wanting to fix / update so many areas of my life now that I no longer have the weight & dieting roller coaster problem at the front of mind. ๐
Itโs human nature to resist change, by the way. We are creatures of habit, and change is hard โ itโs a challenge. I love that you said youโre learning to be kinder to yourself. ๐ Thatโs something Iโm practicing as well. When my mind starts spinning I STOP, breathe in and out, and let it go.
Yes, that was Joe. ๐ Thatโs a whole โnother side to the story that I couldnโt fit into this post, and really donโt have permission to share, but no โ that isnโt what I was sad about. It was bigger issuesโฆ old regrets, missing my children, overwhelm with life and work, other things that feel like an impossible climb โ or things that are long gone and cannot be fixed, only forgivenโฆ
Wow, what a great and inspiring post, Lynn! Everyone should pin this to their desktop to read when the crap is happening.
And you know what? You look AMAZING!!!! So healthy & strong, becoming the fearless warrior you are, and the best teacher by example anyone could ask for.
If we only take one thing from this, itโs donโt let the crap defeat you, just donโt let it. The more you push back, the harder it is for the old dependencies to take control. We all deserve this, every single one of us.
xo
Thank you, Jo! ๐
You are so right. We DO deserve this. Accepting that, owning it, and acting by it will make such a BIG difference!:) *cheers*
I loved the chicken story glad you added it
Your posts are amazing and I look for them everyday.
Thank you
Thank you Sarah ๐ and lol โ she cracks me up SO much! I have both of her books and attended her reading & book signing when she came to Nashville. The rooster was a HOT topic haha. ๐
Amazing!!!! The feeling you had tackling the tower, is the same feeling trying to lose weight. OMG!!!! I loved how you pushed through your fear of heights, the rickety boards to REACH YOUR GOAL!!!! I know I would have TURNED AROUND!!!! Lol, because I DONโT DO HEIGHTS!!!! LOL However, I see if you never press through you will NOT reach it!!!!! Thank you, I am so glad I came across you!!!!! Have a great day and Slim is ADORABLE!!!!
Thank you, Nicole ๐ It really was an amazing experience. I donโt do heights either, by the way โ or I didnโt! I went through a powerful year of โfacing my fears head onโ which included water, heights, caves, and all sorts of fun stuff. ๐
But yesโฆ sometimes it really helps to put your weight loss journey and health goals in perspective โ in a tangible way. ๐