Why Mr. Rogers Is My #GoalWeight Motivation

Goal weight.

This concept has been a colossal mind fuck for me, pretty much always.

Despite every formula out there for calculating an individual's "goal weight", none of them are really accurate, because there's just far too much at play.
Height, weight, body composition, activity level, type of activity, age, sex, etc.
It turns out, that this magical number is best treated as an arbitrary point to base caloric deficit calculations on.

**Shout-out to Jordan Syatt of Syatt Fitness!  Check him out on YouTube , he has the best information on all things diet and training, inclusive how to use your goal weight to calculate your calories and macros for fat loss.***

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZk-b1KyEL9rovh7zdfw_lg

Back to my ramble, here...
My goal weight has been many different numbers. At times it has been a shape or state of conditioning.
Late 2018 shook me up and thrust a number in my face that I was determined to hit. Come hell or high water, I was going to hit 60kg (132lbs).
It was going to happen, and I was going to look so much better than HER when I got there.

Do not choose a goal weight as a result of hurt and traumatic experience.
Do not measure your self worth against someone who refers to themselves as "Barbie" - horror, or otherwise. Toxicity is contagious.
Do not let someone's poor judgement and actions determine what you think you're worth.
Go to therapy.
Learn to value yourself.
Dish out a face slap at the international airport at 1am.

But, I digress.

I started keto in January to participate in a weight loss competition. I loved it! The results were immediate, and that was so damn motivating!!
I still think keto is a great way of eating; especially if you don't spend a lot of time doing intense work in the gym.
But I was cranking out an hour of cardio a day, and 4 days of weights. On 20-50 grams of carbs, and about 1400-1500 calories a day.
Pros and cons. My digestion was amazing. I had great mental clarity. I loved what I was eating. My energy levels fell through the floor though. I was exhausted. I pushed through my workouts, and crashed so hard afterwards.
I decided to add more carbs back in sometime in July and noticed am immediate change. I slept better. I didn't crash after my workouts, anymore, and it felt really good to have some energy, again.
In August, I decided to participate in a program at work where a fitness and nutrition coach works with us to reach health and fitness goals.  Hi, Paul Keefe!

Around this time, I was feeling better about myself. I had achieved a new level of emotional healing, and my focus seemed to shift, dramatically.

It was around this time that I read a very sweet anecdote about Mr. Rogers.

Mr. Rogers weighed 143lbs for most of his adult life, and he worked consistently to maintain that weight. Why?

"there’s one letter in “I,” four letters in “love,” and three letters in “you.”  143 is “I love you.”"
-Mr. Rogers

This struck a deep chord with me.  It was an "aha" moment. I didn't feel like I wanted to weigh 132lbs, anymore. That number was chosen out of hurt and self talk where I made myself believe that I was only valid or "good enough" if I was as good, or better, than her.
I was so much enough, that I could pick a weight that reminded me to love myself.

And so, I decided to set 143lbs as my goal weight.
Now, this number isn't a destination for me. It's the number that I use to plug into Jordan Syatt's equation to calculate my calories and macros for fat loss.
When I step on the scale, I don't tell myself that I'm "X pounds away from 143".

But it's a sweet reminder that I can love myself by aiming for a weight that literally tells me to.
It's a little Mr. Rogers in my everyday, albeit a little unorthodox in approach.

And so, I work every day to love myself a little more. When I stumble, I have compassion for myself. I've learned that I only screw up if I give up, and that's not happening.

Mr. Rogers would have wanted it that way.

See you next time!
Sarah