Check-in--All Welcome!

[Mary]

I did Day 2 exercises in the Lifechanger. I have a before picture from the spring--I haven't changed so I'll use that one. At least I haven't gained overall this year!

I like the words of wisdom for day 2--about having faith in myself instead of out there. I love looking for the magic bullet in workout routines or fitness gear. But obviously I'm the one that needs to be consistent using the fitness stuff and eating right to make anything work.

And also the second point made, taking personal responsibility. No one made me overweight except me. I get frustrated with work or interactions with some people, and think--no wonder you're frustrated. Have some popcorn. It is soothing, I gotta admit. But it's not doing me any good. No one is stuffing my face but me.

I like Julia's program, I know it will work. It's instilling good habits that I can use the rest of my life. And it's flexible. I'm eating real food, I can eat out with friends and have a good time without feeling guilty.

A friend and I were talking over the weekend. She said that this year she was finally getting it together, getting fit. The two of us have said this for the last three years--this year is our year. I get so frustrated with myself (and her too, to be honest). Why does this keep heading up our list of goals, why can't we get beyond it?

I'm not sure, but meanwhile I can work on good habits and make progress.

I can't get hugely enthusiastic about all this--something I've intended to get done so darn often. But on the other hand, I'm not resigned to my current size 16 either. Just keep on keeping on--I'll get there. Cripes, sounds like a long distance march through the desert! Who knows, it just might happen in 2009.

Good luck to all of us.
Mary

[Mary]

I'm back--two days in a row. I'm on a roll. Yesterday went ok, not great, but ok. Got in my water and did the Lifechanger exercises.

Today is day 3 and the exercise is to define the vice I want to bust. That's easy, it's always been the same since I got this program. It's eating mindlessly after dinner. My solution is to plan my food and eat to plan. That way I can eat after dinner, only not mindlessly. Gotta stick to the list.

I like this program because it's real life. I can eat after dinner, I can plan in popcorn or fruitcake or ice cream. The key word for me is plan.

Other times I started Lifechanger I danced around this vice. At one point I decided to simply not eat after dinner. That just didn't work. First of all, there are alot of "after-dinners" in my future and simply not eating in that period for always is unrealistic. And second, I realized it created a black hole that carried too much scary power: oh no! it's after dinner and the mindless calorie gremlins are out to get me.

I've looked at it from alot of angles and decided that my vice isn't the eating after dinner, it's the mindless eating. I need to work on mindful, planned eating. Then I can work anything in and also treat myself as an adult. I'm showing confidence in my ability to make good choices, after I've got the habit down. I need to have faith in myself and build that faith up.

I liked the line from the little essay that goes with this day: "Belief in one's own abilities is a powerful resource and is available to anyone willing to use it."

The hard part is sticking with it until I get the habit down. I think the more success I have, the more I'll be willing to keep up the planning. I'm so trying to be consistent, to see the program through.

Good luck to everyone fighting the weightloss battle this season. We can do this!
Mary

[Mary]

Today is day 4 for me. I still have to put together my food plan for the day. I know what we're having for dinner, but I haven't decided on my lunch and what I can eat after dinner. I also want to get in some exercise. I've been putting that off.

Yesterday went well. I got in my water and ate relatively ok after dinner! At least it was from the food list I came up with.

I had way to much time on my hands yesterday afternoon and started investigating what you can do with the "My Page" feature here. I got a new theme and some widgets! Had no idea there were that many out there. I added a couple games and a yule log video thing and a countdown timer for my weightloss. May 17 is the big day, when I'll be at my ideal weight. So I know where to come now when I'm trying to waste time on the computer.

Good luck to all of us today!
Mary

[Mary]

I did the day 5 exercises this morning. It was being real clear on why I want to lose the weight and the positive ways it will change things. That's easy--I'm real clear about more confidence, getting into my old clothes, being more active. Pride and confidence and health were biggies.

Last night went ok, not great, just ok again. I'm aware of what I'm eating after dinner, so it wasn't mindless. On the other hand, i ate more than I planned. But I was aware that I was doing it, so I figure that's a step in the right direction.

I'll be gone overnight. I think this will have a really positive effect on my eating this evening. Fewer choices! I got in a 10 minute ride on the exercise bike yesterday. Not exactly a big workout, but it was something. And I had to talk really hard to get myself to do that. Today it'll be another 10 minutes. Exercise is definitely an area I need to work on.

Hope your day is going well, any fellow tourists on the weightloss journey out there reading this!
Mary

[Mary]

Today was day 6. Hopefully get the eating back on track. Friday, Saturday and Sunday weren't totally awful, but I've sure done better. I was away from home Friday and it seemed like vacation so I ate accordingly! Funny how important a regular schedule can be.

It snowed here and it's really cold. Good reason to dig out a Leslie Sansone workout.

Mary