Whether you’re praying to God or asking the Universe — at some point, we all look for signs, messages that are supposed to guide us. Well, I received a few messages this week.
I was pretty crabby all week… bummed that I’d gained a pound last week, letting little things get to me. I was mad at my job because I had to work Sunday, keeping me from Baby Blue yet another day (heart breaking) and taking away my Sunday workout (which is critical). I hated every driver on the road. My tax refund STILL hadn’t arrived. My stupid cat bit me. A project I’d sweated over for months took a left turn to Suckland. So I pouted.
By Wednesday, the crabby pity party drew me straight to chocolate. I helped myself to a number of those tiny candy bars that live outside my office. I had a cookie for lunch. I couldn’t find time to work out or even take one of my 15-minute power walks. I didn’t fall completely off the wagon, but I definitely lost focus.
The reality of having to weigh in today changed something. I spent all day Thursday aware of what I was eating. And despite a rough night with Blue, I managed to find some time to go out for a run–my best run yet. There was no way I was going to eat candy after running (it didn’t even sound good). That’s when the lightbulb went off.
All I have to do is compare Wednesday to Thursday and a few messages — signs from above, perhaps – come in loud and clear:
- Eating the candy BARELY brings immediate gratification. I eat, feel guilty for eating it, then grab another. In the end, I just feel icky.
- The exercise and eating healthy REALLY go hand in hand. Without one, the other slides. On the plus side, if you can manage one, the other usually comes more easily.
- One bad week does not derail a weight-loss effort. (I actually lost two pounds this week… totally on track.)
- The scale does not necessarily reflect the week’s activities. (I was far “better” last week — and gained. This week, I lose? What gives?)
- I am MUCH happier on days when I eat right and work out. Candy and cookies do not alleviate the grumpy mood, they exacerbate it.
- It doesn’t have to be so hard. If I do what I know is right and healthy, I will accomplish my goals.
I realized this last night, by the way, before I weighed in this morning. So the good weigh-in is just punctuation.
Mama lost two pounds… two pounds. 14 to go.