When the Sun is Shining . . .
Lately I have been thinking a lot about the successes and failures of dieting. While it is true that there are some people who start their weight loss program and never look back, that is not the way it happens for most of us. Most of us have our ups and our downs, our sunny days and our rainy days, and the truth be known, it is during those rainy days that many of us finally give up and go back to the lifestyle we had before we started the weight loss journey. It is during those rainy times that we wonder what is wrong with us, why we cannot seem to stay on program. We look around at others we know who are succeeding and we convince ourselves that everything goes perfect for those who succeed, never realizing that most of our counterparts encounter the same rainy days that we encounter.
The funny thing is, our attitude was at one time different than this. The day we decided to start our weight loss journey we were motivated. We may not have liked the idea of changing our lifestyle, but we were convinced we could do it. That time may have lasted a day, a week, or even a month or more. It was sunny for us and no one could bring us down. If someone made a comment about our weight, we just smiled knowing that it would not be long until we showed them. We filled our refrigerator with the food we could eat, we emptied the bad stuff from our cabinets, and we laughed in the face of a table of pastries and doughnuts. But then it happened. The sun began to be covered by clouds, and then the rain set in. Once the rain started and there was no sun in sight, we would wallow in our self-pity. Those rainy times are where we would feel emotions just the opposite of those we felt during our sunny days.
So if most of us have the sunny days and the rainy days, what separates the ones who succeed from those who do not? I think for many of us it comes back to one thing – when the sun is shining we make hay! For those of you who don’t know this saying or the meaning behind it, a farmer cannot make hay when it is wet – it would ruin. So the farmer has to make the best of the weather when it is dry and warm. Sure, it would be nice to space the work out, but it doesn’t work that way. The farmer may have a long, wet season. If so, when it finally dries out he has a lot of work to do. This is not unlike us. We may go through a long, wet season in our weight loss journey, but guess what? It will get better. When it does, when the sun comes out, it is time to get off our rumps and make hay.
You may be thinking I have lost my mind with this analogy. I assure you, I have not. Here is how I see it. During the rainy seasons I try to do everything I can to stay on program. I watch what I am eating, I watch my portions, and I try to exercise; nevertheless, I mess up a lot. The exercise gets harder and harder to do. The portions get harder and harder to control, and the foods I should not eat get more and more tempting. Despite this, I trudge through. I do not allow myself to give up. Like the farmer, I do what I can to keep the farm from washing away. Even though I know I am not succeeding like I want to, I do not stray too far from the program. In fact, I do my best to stay on it. No matter how bad it gets, the sun will come back out again, and when it does, I am ready to make hay.
In fact, I have been making lots of hay the last month or so. I really feel like I went through a long, rainy season in my weight loss journey. Although I stayed pretty close to the program, I was just maintaining. I went months without losing a single pound. The clouds eventually started to clear though and the sun started breaking through. I could feel the difference when this started happening. Once again, I began to have the feeling that nothing could stop me. The sun was shining, and I was going to make hay. I started watching my portions again, I got stricter about what I ate, and I started exercising. I looked the failures of the past in the eye and challenged them to try and stop me now. I was strong again. I could be hungry and not give in. I could make myself walk when I don’t want to. I could push myself on push ups again. Folks, the sun is out, and I am making hay! I am going to do everything in my power to make the most of this time because I know it is not going to last forever. There will be rain again.
When the rain comes, I will know that I did everything in my power to get the hay finished while the sun was shining. I may not be done. If not, I will do what I can to get the job done while it is raining, knowing it is likely that I am not going to be as effective. Nevertheless, I am going to keep at it, doing what I can, and keeping the farm in order so I am ready when the clouds break again.
Fortunately, there is not a cloud in the sky right now. In fact, I feel like it may never rain again. Of course, I know this is not the truth, but the weather really looks great right now (metaphorically speaking). I still have a lot of hay to make, so I am putting in all I can.
Is the sun shining for you? If so, how’s the hay coming along? Or, are you having some rainy weather right now? If so, keep your chin up. The rain doesn’t last forever. Be sure you are ready though, because you want to make the most of it when the sun comes back out.
24 Responses to “When the Sun is Shining . . .”
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Thanks Steve. I really needed this post and I slowly read every word. You really have a gift of encouragement.
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
Ehren, I am humbled. Thank you for your kind words.
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Prev Next oon to My Album “The sun was shining, the bees were humming, the birds were singing. Lose Weight
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“I really feel like I went through a long, rainy season in my weight loss journey. Although I stayed pretty close to the program, I was just maintaining. I went months without losing a single pound. ”
THIS IS SO ME RIGHT NOW!!! I also just went through a period of rain… maintaining and waiting for something to happen! Thanks for the encouragement, I think I see the sun peaking out of the clouds as we speak ;D
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:12 pm
wrthofnino, isn’t the sun a beautiful sight? I am glad to see this resonated with you.
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There is a new transmission in Big Green. The Tank is reading Full. Larry the fuel guy is paid-up. The A/C and the GPS is working. Dad let me keep my AC/DC “hippie music”. Mom packed some beer in my lunch. No rocks in the field and the sun is shinning. Time to go hard.
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Mike, I hear you. It sounds like you have the farm ready for work. Now let’s get the hay bailed!
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Man, I love that analogy. You worded in right on! I don’t know of a single person who hasn’t gone through what you mentioned. The rainy season is the true test of endurance though. If you can make it through that period of time without any major setbacks than that’s a success. Then again if you make it through it period, that’s an even greater success. As you know it’s been extremely sunny here and I hope to bottle up this feeling of “highness” and use it ti my advantage when it starts getting cloudy again. The clouds will come and go but I am hoping my journey to better heath will never stop.
I really enjoyed this post….
Have a safe and healthy trip..
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Rob, thanks so much for your kind words. I agree with you, the rainy times are tough and not all of us make it, which is all the more reason we have to make the best of the sunny days. You are so right though, it is sunny in your field right now – perhaps more sunny than any field I have seen. Make the most of it.
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I had a few rainy days, but the sun has been out since yesterday and I’m making hay like crazy! And it feels great! Great analogy!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Make that hay while you can. The rainy days come and they go. The thing to remember is that they do go away. We can’t let the hay sit there and ruin though, when the sun is out, we gotta get busy.
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Great post Steve, For me, there are more sunshiny days then rainy days. Even tho sometimes it seems like its pretty cloudy.
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:17 pm
Ron, that is one thing I have noticed about you. Your field is generally sunny. The clouds don’t bother me – it is the darn rain!
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ever have one of those skys were you have sun on one side and rain clouds on the other? those are the stuff of rainbows!!
im coming off two cheat days that got a bit out of hand. i always feel a little drizzle when i get off my diet, even if its planned. thanks for the attitude adjustment!
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
Rachel, I thought about adding a rainbow into the analogy. It is amazing how great life is when the clouds are breaking to one side and the sun is shining on the other. Right about then we see that awesome rainbow.
Thanks for the comments.
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Ugh…Too many rainy days in the past month. When will the sun shine again?
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Tony, it is tough when we seem to be plagued with the rain, but as I said in another comment, the rain does go away. Make the best of it while it is raining, but get ready for the sun. It will come again.
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Great stuff, Steve. As Ehren says, you have the gift of encouragement. Thought-provoking and definitely a post to revisit during those long rainy seasons.
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:20 pm
Fit Fan, like I said to Ehren, I am really humbled. Thanks for your comments, as always.
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Great post Steve. I think you may be talking to me here. Hope to make some hay soon. Thanks.
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South Beach Steve Reply:
June 12th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Mark, while the post was aimed at no one specific, you did cross my mind a lot as I was typing it. I sense your resolve is getting stronger again – the sun is fixing to shine.
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