The End And a New Beginning!

So, today is the last day of 2012!  I started my journey on January 2, 2012 and it has been a good year for my health!  I lost 24 lbs total, though have gained some back during the holidays.  I am looking forward to starting fresh again in January 2013!  I hope to lose at least another 24 lbs!

So, Happy New Year to all of you and I leave you with this thought:

Hanging in There.

I seem to be doing much better with the "view today and only today" motto.  If I mess up, I don't dwell on yesterday's mistakes.  I focus on NOW.  It seems to be working.  I've lost 2.4 lbs of what I'd put back on, so that's a good thing!

All this running around doesn't hurt either!

My next battle is going to be the Christmas COOKIES!  I am making batches for bus drivers and teachers and they are just so darn good, I'm sure it will be "1 for you, 3 for me ..."!

It also helps to keep my perspective in light of the Connecticut shootings.  Just tragic.  What's a weight loss journey and the relatively small struggles when compared to the loss those folks are dealing with up there.

So, hug your kids and live in the moment!

The Little Picture

I've been thinking about this all wrong (and probably way too much).  I've gotten so overwhelmed by the big picture - the holiday season - that I forgot the first rule of weight loss:  Yesterday is gone, tomorrow isn't here yet - all I can control is what I do today.

I need to just concentrate on today.  I can't worry about what I might eat during the week of Christmas or the upcoming Christmas parties.  I need to focus on today.  Today I can control.  I can fight and work hard right NOW.

Sure, I'm going to screw up.  But if I do, I need to remember that it's over and past and I need to concentrate on the "now" and do my best to eat better and exercise.

I must say I feel pretty good today.  I ate horribly over the weekend and just felt terrible.  Very blah.  So much rich food.  My body just doesn't tolerate it well any more.  There wasn't even that "instant gratification" when I was eating the smoked chicken wings on Saturday.  I took a bite and thought, "Wow, this is really heavy and greasy."  And I only ate one.  That's all my body could deal with.

So, today I am going to do this.  I am going to eat better and exercise.  I've already ridden my recumbent bike for 71 minutes and I've done some calisthenics and it's just now 7:30 a.m.!  So that is a good start.

I am going to try not to get wrapped up in fears over weight gain this holiday season.  I will do what I can in the moment and try to be better than I was yesterday.  I will make progress.  I am going to fight for my body, fight for my health.  In this time of thinking of others, I need to make sure I don't forget to think of myself!
To start myself on my way, to get myself motivated to deal with TODAY, I leave you with this thought:

Holiday Season .. Can I Survive It??

So today is December 1.  This is the month with lots of food, family and revelry.  How am I ever going to keep my weight loss going??

One of my friends suggested that I just try and maintain during this time.  Keep up the exercise and eating well when I can, but don't limit myself to the point of not enjoying this special holiday time.  Somehow that feels like a cop-out to me, but he does have a point.  I don't want to be miserable all month because I wanted to lose weight and ate that piece of pecan pie ...

Still, I don't really want to just coast through this month.  I want to persevere, but honestly?  I don't think it's going to be possible.  Maybe I should just coast and then start with new rejuvenation after New Year's Day. That was when I started this journey last year and I did have a lot of focus and determination at that time.

Am I silly for even worrying about this?  So long as I keep up my morning exercises and my weight lifting and kettle bells, is it okay if I eat more and enjoy more "bad" foods?

I'm having a tough time coming to terms with this.  What thoughts do you guys have?