Saturday, July 17, 2010

Training Wheels

I was in the car this morning with my son who is learning to drive.  I am pleased to see that he wants to get some more independence and is making some positive steps.  As we drove down the street in our neighborhood, we passed a mother and her young son.  She was helping guide her son who was learning to ride a bike.  It struck me because I was with my son who is at the tail end of my guidance and here was a  young mother with her son who is just beginning to give her guidance.  I thought about how nice it would be to have my mother around to give me comfort, but you see she passed a few years back.  She really wasn't much help to me in the ways that I needed her to be and I can only hope and pray that my two grown sons don't feel that way about me.  I don't think they do.
Anyway, I have gained a few pounds back this summer.  I have been living it up with wine and gin and tonics to my hearts content.  But today's weigh in was a wake up call for me.  204 today.  Last month I was 198.  I was disappointed that I have gained, but I have to take the credit.
I made a promise to go back on plan 100%.  And, so I will.  I have.  I do wish I could find some comfort about the weight, but the training wheels are off for me.  I can't wait for guidance.  I am grown.  I need to do what I need to do and not take the road of denial.  It is make it or break it time for me.  I have a choice.  I can continue being off plan or I can make the change right here to be back on course.  I don't know how many of you have been lured by summer eating and drinking, but I hope that you can do what you need for your body to be healthy.  Do it today, won't you?

Thursday, July 1, 2010

The Return to Normal Life

So, I am back from vacation.  I gained 7.5 lbs, but that is not the focus of this post.  I also gained the confidence that I can eat and be merry for a prescribed amount of time and then return to what I would consider eating to live and not living to eat.  Eating in the south is a challenge, so I made the decision to enjoy the flavors and different foods.  I walked what seemed like a million miles, so I knew that some of the increase in calories would be a wash.  I did not eat with reckless abandon, but I did try everything I wanted to try.  The southern cooks take perfectly good food like squash and smother it in bacon, butter, and flour.  It was almost impossible to eat in a healthful manner in Louisiana at least while one is on vacation.  Everything is fried.  Everything that is listed as grilled, is also grilled in oil of some kind.  So, I went with the flow.  I ate until I was full and left the rest.  I ate pralines and bread pudding.  I ate what tasted good and frankly, everything was delicious.  Everything.
The point of my post today isn't a criticism of the south, but really that upon my return, I went back to my plan of healthful eating.  It feels good to say that.  I was so concerned prior to vacation that 2.5 weeks off plan would do me in and I would not be able to regain the control.  But, I did, and I am.  As far as the 7.5 goes, 3 of it is already gone as of today.  It is progress as far as I am concerned.  I like it.