21 Day Challenge: Day 9

Yesterday was the first day I had the real temptation to eat when I shouldn't. I'm steadily losing weight, exercising, and seeing those results is motivating. So why would I even think to sabotage my quest to lose these extra pounds?

Stress eating is one of the reasons I'm overweight. I'm not talking about major stress like a terminal illness in the family or losing a job. Everyday stress is a sneaky creature. It can creep in just because I have to do something I don't want to do like the mundane responsibilities of life. It affects my diet mood. Eating something I want to eat gives me the feeling that I am in control and that I can do something I enjoy even when there are plenty of things I'm expected to do that I don't really want to do. Does that make sense?

It didn't hit until after lunch. I wasn't hungry physically, but my mind went to food. It didn't really surprise me, because that's the way I lived before this 21 day challenge started. It's these choices in everyday life that make a difference in results. I decided to bundle up and go for my walk earlier than usual. Get out of the house and get moving.

The temps had climbed to 22 degrees and the sun shone bright on the light blanket of snow. I wasn't sure if it would be too icy to walk, especially up the "big hill". Patches of ice were here and there but not a problem. In the middle of my second mile I thought about cutting it short. Two miles instead of three miles, but I DIDN'T! I determined to keep going. The sun disappeared and only small patches of blue showed in the sky filling with gray puffy clouds. I pushed forward. Snow crunching under my feet in spots, cheeks freezing, by breath blowing balloons of frosty mist in front me.

I walked into the house victorious. The urge to eat for no good reason had disappeared. Once choice at a time, our habits make a difference!

More Ideas on How to Not Gain Holiday Weight

I'm more than half way through my cleanse and just about 10 pounds down. Remember though, that when I start eating, some of that weight will come back. However, I have to say it really has motivated me. My clothes are fitting, I can bend over with out cutting off my air, and I can cross my legs and feel comfortable.

While my focus has been taken off food, I'm also considering my strategy for how I'll eat once I finish the cleanse. Portion control seems to be one key to keeping weight off, and for continuing to lose. Along with that is learning the habit of eating slowly. These are all elements to take with us into the holiday season. Instead of saying you can't have any holiday goodies, which tends to be unrealistic, allow yourself to have a little. Yes, little. For example, a tradition in my family is to make Christmas cookies. In recent years I've cut back to making two kinds of cookies instead of six or so. And my plan is to make them for other people. That way I can have a couple from a batch and give the rest away. And I'll savor my goodies, eating them slowly so I can enjoy them.

Our society is one of excess, and that's one of the reasons we have such a weight problem. We think nothing of super sizing, eating plates piled with food and then having dessert too, or snacking enough to equal a big meal and then still eating a full meal.

Portion control. Let's take a look at how much a serving is, and when in doubt, use your palm as a guideline. If it fills your palm, it's a serving.

One Day at a Time Weight Loss

Life is a bit hectic right now, but I haven't cut exercise from schedule, though my blogging time has been whittled down as my regular readers may have noticed. I'm on day 13 of my cleanse, and feeling good. I've lost 7.5 pounds, though I know some of that will come back when I'm done with the cleansing process. One of the main things I've noticed is how much better I'm sleeping. Which tells me that what I eat can affect that!

My writing responsibilities continue to grow in a good way. I have a second interview with LoveToKnow tomorrow to possibly take on more responsibility there. Time will tell what is next. Either way I'll be satisfied as I'm very happy with my current role there as Site Editor for Diet, Exercise, Vitamins, Business and Home Improvement, along with my writing responsibilities.

Along with this, I'm setting up a couple more blog tours for Promo 101 Virtual Blog Tours. Two very interesting books. One is young adult fantasy and the other is non-fiction written by a man who grew up in a crime family!

I'm also making slow but steady progress on my next novel, looking for reviewers for Beyond the Fifth Gate, and reading a mystery for review.

With this kind of schedule, in the past, I've snacked when I hit a snag, or have to take care of something I don't feel like doing, or if I feel overwhelmed or too busy to make something healthy. Following this cleanse has helped me take my focus off food. I don't have to think about what I can or can't have. There's one thing. The fresh lemonade mixture I make each day. It satisfies, gives me all the energy I need and more, plus when I'm at our weekly pot luck, or sitting at the dinner table...it's okay. I don't obsess about what I can't have! I take it one day at a time.

No Sugar Headache

Meant to stop by yesterday and report on the weekend, but I had such a headache I only did what was necessary. I'm going through sugar withdrawal. Its not that I never plan to have sugar again, but it is one of the things I know triggers me to eat more than I need, and I've done that yo-yo bounce back where I've gained back the five pounds I'd lost. So for now, I'm not eating sugar--no dessert, snacks, drinks, etc. if they have sugar.

Last night I attended a writer's workshop and was asked to bring cookies or something. I made a pan of chocolate brownies and a pan of butterscotch brownies and I didn't even lick the spoon! Plus as I cut those moist goodies into serving size pieces and all the gooey delight clung to the knife--instead of going into my mouth it went into the trash. When I take steps like this I realize all the extra calories I tend to put in my mouth unconsciously.

The writer's workshop was good. An interesting speaker who is an editor and author by the name of Chris Roerden. She talked about submitting your work and how to get it past the first "gatekeeper". She didn't offer gimmicky tips, but reminders to take care to watch out for the bad writing pitfalls that get your manuscript tossed into the reject pile.

I'm so glad I attended even though I had that headache. As an added bonus, I met new people and it looks like I may have an opportunity to do a book signing at the Harris Art Center. That would be great. It would be my first signing since the release of the revised edition of Pumping Your Muse with its new cover, and the first since Beyond the Fifth Gate came out!