If there’s anything that any expectant woman will tell you about the last two weeks of pregnancy, it boils down to these two words: Waiting Sucks. Period.

My mother always says that she was born near-sighted with no patience. I always thought I had a smidge more than her, but I see now that I was wrong and feel as if I have no patience left in me. The last two weeks have been hell, I tell you. HELL! I’m anxious, I’m sore, I’m weepy and emotional, I’m tired of this process, and I’m so ready to have this kid on the other side. I mean, the myth of the 9-month pregnancy is the biggest one since Big Foot…it’s easily 10 solid months of having a 40-pound bowling ball strapped to the front of your body. Now, even though I know there’s an immense amount of joy in this process (and I’m not discounting that at all), the last bit sucks. Big time. The “waiting for results” part is wiggin’ me out.

What an inspiration for a blog post (I mean, I need to do something to pass the time)! Lemme ask you…have you ever feel that way about weight loss?

One of the reasons the juicing craze is sweeping the nation is because of its crazy fast results. Look at Joe Cross – he lost 70+ pounds in 60 days and inspired millions. But what if you’re one of those people who have caught the juicing bug and are expecting those same results? What happens when you step on the scale and haven’t lost a pound per day? Or, what happens when the scale numbers stall so close to your goal?

Let’s take this another way: you have decided that you’re going to lose weight by making a lifestyle change that includes juicing (not a fast, but adding fresh juice to your daily meals for the nutrient kick), changing your diet, drinking lots of water, and an exercise plan. Your attitude is totally can-do in the beginning, but the waiting to see the actual end results makes you crazy as time ticks on. As weeks go by and the scale doesn’t show you what you want to see, the frustration causes you to think, “well, since this OBVIOUSLY isn’t working, I’m going to hit the nearest Krispy Kreme drive thru window as soon as the flashing sign signals hot doughnuts!”

We have ALL been there. We get anxious for those tangible results, right? We get impatient for the numbers to change, for the new pants to fit and the old ones to sag, for the comments and praise and double-takes, for the reflection to look different. What we say to ourselves in the beginning is, “This is gonna be great! This is gonna change my life! I’m going to be a size this with a BMI of that!”…but we never tell ourselves that it’ll take time, consistent effort and PATIENCE. Change takes time. Results – permanent ones, that is – take time. We have to wait for it.

Here’s where this process is like pregnancy in two major ways:

First, no matter how frustrated you get at the time that passes by like molasses in January traveling uphill, if you stick to the plan and don’t lose focus, the results are inevitable. I can bitch all day about sore hips and my newly perfected waddle, but in truth, this process has an end date when the big prize gets handed to me. It’s the same for you – the days may tick by slowly, but changing your eating, hitting the spin class and drinking all that water will give you the body and health you want. It is INEVITABLE. Countless thousands have gone before you and proven the theory that eating well and focus provides results. Moral: when you work it, it works. No question. 

Second, just because we don’t “see” the results doesn’t mean there ain’t none. I can’t physically see this kid baking in the belly, and although I may think he’s in there just taking his sweet friggin’ time for the fun of it, all the research tells me that the 39th week is one of the most important in a baby’s brain development. Now, flip that realization and apply it to juicing for a sec; many people get angry when they don’t see the pound-per-day weight loss on the scale. However, you can’t “see” the toxins that are being released from the body, the lining of your digestive tract reforming, the plaque releasing itself from your innards, or the myriad of other positive changes in your bodily functions taking place that assist in you gaining greater health. Moral: just because you don’t see a thing doesn’t mean that nothing’s hap’nin’. 

In our quick-fix-60-second-solution society, we have lost the idea of patience. Waiting is  truly a lost art. When it comes to making a major change in your life, however, patience is exactly what the doctor ordered. Make your plan, focus on the goal, take the steps one at a time…and learn how to wait for the good thing while knowing that each and every day, your hard work is paying off.

Be patient with yourself. You will get there, I promise.