Have you ever been just walking along and tripped over your own two feet? That is how I was feeling earlier this week. I had not checked my weight in a couple weeks so I thought I should get in to see how things are going. The scale went the wrong direction, more than a normal pound or two. At first I was thinking, “OK, what time of month is this? Could it be water weight? Have I gained some muscle? Is this a normal weight loss fluxuation? Then I sat down with a pad and a pencil and began dissecting the last couple weeks. Much to my chagrin I had fallen into that mental trap of I’m doing so well now things will be OK.
I had started to indulge in things more often, small portions of them out of paranoia yes, but when you are doing it nearly every day that defeats the purpose as well. Also I thought I had been doing this long enough I could eyeball my portions and be just fine. Turns out not so much, as I poured myself some cereal yesterday I realized somehow my measured 1/2 cup had grown in two weeks to half a bowl. Paying attention yesterday to every little thing showed me that I had allowed doing well to make me complacent. I had started sleeping in a couple days a week “because I am doing great.” It is funny how we play these mind games with ourselves when trying to completely change an entire lifestyle.
So now it is back to measuring cups for portions and exercise every day with no excuses. Apparently this is not “normal” enough to my mind and body to just do it without some strict control over every detail. Who knows, maybe 10 years from now I will still need the measuring cups, a bit of a daunting prospect. Will it be worth it? I’m pretty sure my family would say yes and my heart says definitely!
— Holly
Print | posted on Friday, October 17, 2008 8:20 AM