Steady As She Goes

"I've reached the dreaded plateau and feel like I'm not losing."

What do you do when you feel like this? I'm staying off the scale for now, so I'm not sure if I've reached one of those discouraging plateaus or not. The thing that strikes me is that it doesn't matter when it all boils down to the fact that I need to hang in there and keep eating right and exercising. The pounds I've pasted on to my stomach, hips and other areas didn't pile on in a couple of months and I won't shed them that way either.

That's what the logical part of me says. However, the emotional side of me feels a tad discouraged. Yesterday, I was the guest of an author chat and experienced feelings of apprehension during the day and the stress nudged me to want to eat. I didn't touch the peanut butter/chocolate that's been hanging around the office, or the chocolate covered pretzels or the chocolate covered nuts. That's huge for me. Funny thing is that the chat went so well I felt like eating when it was done! What better way to celebrate that to eat? It really brought home my weakness. I want to eat when I'm stressed and when I'm happy. I need to learn how to enjoy life without figuring in the element of food to satisfy!

Instead of embracing feelings of discouragement, I'm going to cling to the victories. Emotions are not always true to us. I may feel like a failure when I am not, or I may be a failure but food certainly won't change that.

For today, I'll keep my eyes on the goal set before me and stop to enjoy the fact that my jeans are looser than they use to be.

First Six Weeks -- 18 Inches!

If any of you wonder where I've been, I didn't drop off the old blogger because I slipped off the wagon. Actually, my lack of blogs is linked directly with my broken laptop, which is now alive and well.

The first six weeks of changing my eating habits is behind me. I'm eight pounds lighter which brings me up to a grand total of ten pounds since I started to seriously try and lose weight. The first three months of exercise without watching my calorie intake netted a whole two pound weight loss! Now after six weeks, I've lost not only eight more pounds but a total of 18 1/2 inches!

As I enter the next six week challenge I'll keep my calorie intake at 1,000-1,200 calories per day. No more--no less. I've added bread (no more than two slices) and potatoes (no more than six ounces) back into my diet. I've been a bit under the weather this week, but my overall exercise goal is to walk (or some form of exercise) at least four days a week.

On the writer's front, I've had a story accepted by Rocking Chair Reader which will be published next year in October. Of course, two rejections came in this week too. It's all part of the process, just like exercise and eating right!

Lap One Complete

Today is the last day of my first six weeks of eating right and exercising regularly. I made it through Mother's Day and Memorial Day. I survived the stress of losing the use of my laptop, my first book released, and preparing for my first workshop.

The commitment to do this made a difference. Not just a commitment to myself, but to the others I joined in this effort and most of all to God. Tomorrow is the weigh in day. (If I choose to weigh.) I'll be measured one way or another. I'm concerned if I weigh that I might be discouraged at the results. If the scale says I'm a failure because I don't meet my expectations will that throw me off the deep end and into a creamy rich dessert?

I know that's silly. I'm fitting into clothes that I couldn't wear or that were too tight. Should I just allow that to be my "weigh in." I guess I'll have to decide by tomorrow.

Running the Race

Back in the days when I ran for exercise, I never did get to the point of the euphoric high other people told me about. I ran as a challenge to myself. Today my exercise of choice is walking. Living in Florida beats the harsh winters of Chicago, but the heat and humidity offer new challenges which easily lead to procrastination. Plus, in the summer mosquitoes breed faster than ants on honey.

I've bought various gadgets that promised me I'd be fit and trim. Now the trick is that I had to use them! Go figure. They do work well as dust gatherers or clothes horses.

The reason I bring this up is that eating right and exercising over the long haul reminds me of running. It's not really fun, but it's rewarding. Today is a gray, rainy day and when I looked in the mirror this morning I had a cloudy outlook. I know I've lost weight, but I have a long way to go. My old mindset would have told me to go ahead and eat some cookies to comfort myself because it's taking sooo long. Instead, I've stayed accountable. I'm writing down my calories and holding to my commitment. Tomorrow the sun will shine and it will be a new day and I'll be thankful I did.