EAT -- Effort

I was dreading my weigh-in this morning.  I didn't have a terrible week, eating-wise.  In fact, I attempted to drink more water this week.  But that was the only thing I had to make an effort to do. All the healthy eating and bike riding (33 miles) this week sort of came naturally.  I did it without a lot of thought, planning or effort.  I recognized this lack of effort and became convinced that it would result in a gain.  Nope!  Lost 2.2 pounds!  This is a turning point for me. In the past, even back in February when I started this, I was making so much effort that if I lost 2.2 pounds, I wanted a medal.  And a parade. Things have certainly changed!  This turning point comes with a pitfall.  I am afraid that this perceived lack of effort will turn into an actual lack of effort and that I will slowly revert back to my former way of eating.  I need to keep an eye on that.  Also in the past, I have been reluctant to "go on a diet" because it consumes me to the point where it is all I can think of and talk about.  Obviously this has not been the case this time.  I am so grateful for that. Today is Saturday, the day I allow myself to eat my extra 49 points with controlled abandon.  Last week I ate a whole 7" pizza at South Perry Pizza, it was so delicious!  I wonder where my controlled abandon will take me today?

Tales From The Closet

So I have now lost 33 pounds in 5 months. This has resulted in a lot of my clothes becoming too big for me. Yesterday the pants I wore to work had to be pulled up to right under my bra!  I joked that I was wearing old man pants, but I was self conscious all day.  Something had to be done.  So last night I went clothes shopping with my friend Cari. I tried on some pants, but I didn't like the way they fit.  Shirts were even worse.  They are too big on the top and too tight at the bottom. I am not losing weight proportionately, and this is a problem.  I did find one shirt that I liked well enough to buy, In another 5 or so pounds it should fit better.  Assuming I lose that 5 pounds from around my hips and not my boobs.  In the end, I ordered the  same kind of pants I always order online, just one size smaller. We will see how that goes.
So then last night after I got home from shopping I went into my closet and tried on nearly every pair of pants that was in there. I ended up throwing away over 20 pairs of pants that were too worn out to donate.  Some were too big, others were just worn out.  I feel better about going into my closet now, not so confused.  Hopefully I will lose weight in such a way that clothes will start to look better on me.  The journey continues...

EAT--Kool-Aid

So, I have been eating differently for over four months now. By that I mean I have been eating less red meat and more chicken, more veggies and fruit, and smaller portions in general.  This has changed my tastes.  Here is an example:  Last Saturday morning I had to work right after my WW weigh-in. Now, I don't eat before my weigh-ins and usually just eat a banana at the meeting and then the rest of my breakfast when I get home. Well I was going right to work, so I decided to stop at Jack in the Box and get one of their Hearty Bowls.  It has hash browns, sausage, eggs and cheese and is a greasy gooey 25 points.  I had justified all those points by telling myself that I had just lost 2.6 pounds so I can eat something that I love.  Here is the thing--I didn't love it.  I barely even liked it!  What a waste of 25 points!  So yesterday I had to work again, and I decided to make oatmeal on Friday night and bring a bowl of that along with some blueberries. Much better!  The point I am taking a long time to make is this: I have started to make better choices naturally. The better choices are the ones I like better now!  Some of this makes me sad, because I love the bad choice food in my heart. Like bacon, I love bacon in my heart so much!  But the last time I ate it I was unimpressed.  I don't want to quit loving bacon, but I would rather eat something else less greasy, like turkey bacon.  It's still bacon, right?  I can still love it!
Anyway, all this stuff was rattling around in my head so I have to admit it now.  I have drunk the healthy kool-aid.  And I like it.  Move over, bacon, my heart needs the space.