Okay so did the novelty wear off already?  Must have, right, that’s why I’ve been gone from here for what, three weeks?

Amazingly, no it hasn’t.

I’m still “on plan.”  I’m still counting calories.  I’m still shopping carefully.  I’m still in the game, yeah.  Even though the rules seem to be stacked against me, I’m still in it.  I’m not giving up, nuh uh.  Even though I have like the slowest metabolism on the planet and even though I’ve actually GAINED weight instead of lost weight… I’m still in there, still committed, still OBSESSED.

Actually, yeah, I did gain weight — but I also lost a little too.  Right now I’m down three pounds from my beginning weight.  Not exactly the progress that I was hoping for, BUT… prior to beginning this journey I was gaining an average of HALF A POUND A WEEK, thanks to the Graves Disease effect on my thyroid.  SO.  If it’s been four weeks and I’ve lost three pounds and I WOULD HAVE in that period of time GAINED two pounds, then I’m really five pounds ahead of the game.

It’s okay.  Usually by four weeks into a “diet” if I’d only lost three pounds, I’d be throwing in the towel for sure.  I’d be saying “WHY BOTHER” and I’d go back to eating what I wanted when I wanted.  BUT I’M NOT LIVING THAT LIFE ANYMORE.  I have begun a new, heathier life, and REGARDLESS of the daily effect of the earth’s gravity (which is all “weight” is, after all), I’m not turning back to the old life.  Ever.

I went out of town for a week.  Went to Washington D.C.  Even though I stayed in a hotel and ate room service food, I managed to stay on plan.  Because it’s not a diet.  I am forming new daily rituals, CREATING NEW HABITS.  This way of eating will become just as much of a habit as the old way of eating was. 

When I got back from my trip, I found that my husband had surprised me with a gift.  He is awesome at getting me exactly what I want and he didn’t fail this time, that’s for sure.  There in the TV room is a brand new upright exercise bike, the one I had picked out to buy “when we have the money.”  It’s mine now and my daily routine has now changed to include some quality time with that bike.  We’re going to be good friends, me and the bike, I can feel it already.

Yeah, I’m back.