Me, I did not lose any weight this week. I am still at a 10 pound loss. I have been watching portions this week, but have had too many carbs. I need to get those back out of my system. I don’t seem to lose when I eat those carbs. So, I am going to re-focus this week. AND had to many sweets/snack bars for snacks instead of veggies and fruits.

Also, I purchased a new battery for my pedometer Wednesday, put it in and that was as far as I got. No excuse, just laziness. AND that is not okay!!!! so please don't say it is.

Ladies, thinking on my own excuses for the week I need to re-focus on my goals. I hope this doesn’t sound harsh to anyone, because mostly it is directed at myself. Seems like life around our house is always hectic. So many unexpected things happen. Holidays happen….BTW…Happy Valentines Day! If I let myself, I am going to find a new excuse every week.

Here are my reflective thoughts this morning:

#1) I can ALWAYS control my eating. EVEN at the holidays or special times. No one does this for me. I make bad choices. I give in to emotional cravings too easily (even when not hungry). I really need to learn to make healthy choices and not let my eating control my life. I need to learn to ‘just say no’. When done properly (and in a healthy manner), I can lose weight by changing my diet alone. It just takes a lot longer. When the program is not working, I need to pull out my charts and guide book. I am probably not being honest with myself about what I am eating or inaccurate in measurements (I am sure that rubric cube gets bigger after a while –LOL)

#2) Exercise I can’t always control because it does take time (and my time isn’t always ‘mine’). BUT I can do all that I can to minimalize the unexpected. I have always gotten up in the mornings with DH, to make him breakfast before heading to work (6:30 am). 8-10 years ago, I bundled up my 2 pre-schoolers and baby. We headed to the gym for an hour. That was a great time in my life. I rarely missed my exercise. I felt good. AND was modeling healthy priorities to my children. I did not miss out on life, and was rarely interrupted. As I reflect on my life now…how much easier that should be today. The baby is now 11. I have a treadmill, free weights, videos, weight bench, ball, bands…etc. I don’t have to even leave the house. Some exercises can even be done in my pajamas. I don’t have any excuses besides laziness! Nowadays, I get up at 6:30 to make DH breakfast, then I turn on the computer to plan our school day and play on the computer. This week I need to work on a new priority. As soon as DH leaves, I need to exercise. No more excuses! When I wait until later in the day to exercise, I really just set myself up for failure.

#3) I need to stop accepting failure. Failure is when I don’t pick myself back up when I fall. Failure is not the fall. Did anyone watch the Olympic pair skating yesterday? The last Chinese couple had a major fall within the first 30-60 seconds of their program. She could barely rise. She was clearly hurt and shaken. I am sure that her confidence took a hit. They stopped the skating and had a short time to re-coup. BUT they did not fail! After she recovered her composure, together they got back on their program. They picked up where they left off. They skated knowing that they were no longer skating for a medal, just the honor of being at the Olympics…and completing their course. They received a standing ovation from the crowd. And guess what? They won the SILVER! That fall must have affected their scores, but they got back on their program and made up for it! That young lady is hurting today….probably even last night after the adreline dropped. At this point all of that makes their victory even sweeter! You know…my (our) weight loss goals are the same. I need to get back on track. I need to know that despite apparent set backs, I to can reach my goal (even if I fall along the way). BUT I won’t even have a chance to win, if I stay down. Or if I keep making excuses for why I can’t get back with the program. Let’s be honest, Life hurts! I just have to learn to focus through the pain. I have to want it bad enough. Do I want it bad enough? So I can know I have defeated one more of life’s battles. So I can model good behavior for my children. So I can be healthy and enjoy life. Or am I just going through the motions? Or worse…am I laying on the ground wounded overcome in misery and shame? This week I want to pick myself up, shack off the fall, recompose myself, and move forward with gusto!

#4) Finally, I thank God….for the support He has given me. The wonderful counsel and encouragement from friends like you all.

HAVE A GREAT DAY, LADIES

Donna, you've said it all. Very insightful and thank you so much for sharing with us. We all need a reminder every once in a while.

The funny thing with exercise is that you get hooked if you just make yourself do it. I'm still sick with a major head cold and I can't even get downstairs right now without feeling dizzy. I've missed my gym for 3 days and it's bugging me.

Donna! I'm right there with you recommitting to the program. I failed as well on Sunday and have picked myself up again. It's just a bump in the road! It's not going to stop us from achieving our goals!

We have the power to do it! If we don't try, we're not going to make it happen. But to think of it, I prefer to hit a few bumps and reach my weight loss goal in 5 years from now if it takes that long! But I will NOT go back to what I was before 65 pounds heavier. We can do this! And with this support group, it's even better! I don't feel so alone! And when I fall, people help me up! It's great motivation to keep going!

You know DOnna - you are throwing a lot at yourself here at one time. Slow down a minute - you aren't going to be able to change everything at one time without your head exploding and you are setting yourself up for a very likely failure.

Why not focus first on getting your eating in order? A few suggestions: (The rest of you already know what I am going to say here - so feel free to skip ahead) Stick to protein for your snacks - especially your PM snack. For example: If you look at Melissa's food journal, you will notice that while she indulges her sweet tooth in the mornings with her 100 calorie snack packs (usually cookies) her afternoon snack almost always includes a protein of some kind. Never eat a carb all by itself. BAD idea. Want an apple? Have a very small apple with some peanut butter! You will get some protein and some fat which will keep your blood sugar stable and will keep you satiated longer. Try pairing peanut butter with celery too! A little peanut butter goes a long way. DOn't like peanut butter? try some cheese - or yogurt - maybe a HB egg. You already mentioned eliminating refined sugars and white starches from your diet - great idea! These two things should push you ahead a bit. Ride that wave as long as you can. If you hit a snag - or if you stop loosing - then add in exercise.

Use a timer. FLylady tells us that we can do anything for 15 minutes (except whine). If you don't know who flylady is, email me and I will link you. This works for me with ANY unsavory task I have to plow through - even work-related stuff like mind-numbing filing. If you have to do 15 minutes exercise - when the timer goes off - have 15 minutes of computer time. In time - this will be easier. DOn't forget about using your pedometer for some concrete feedback about your activity level. DO the little things like park far from the door and taking your cart back to the front of the store... Little things add up to big things...

Don't cheat yourself. You are worth it. DOn't scold yourself if you slip - you aren't a child. DOn't treat yourself like one. Stay focused. Stay positive - think of a really good reward if you break your plateau - for me a pedicure is enough of a carrot to get me focused! Do it for your toes I always say to myself! A lot easier to pass up ice cream when you MIL and dh are eating big heaping bowls on the sofa at night. Suddenly my peach tea is mighty sweet tasting to me...

Anyway - those are just some thoughts from me. Do with them what you will. Hugs to you!

And Happy Valentine's day, Gals!!

Donna,

I think your insights are wonderful! Do whatever it takes to motivate yourself. You are seeing things clearly! You know what to do!! The hard part is doing it!!!

We will all "get off the program" from time to time and that is totally ok! The trick is to get right back on (which you know and have said)! This is lifetime. Learn the lifetime tricks and what works for you!! Then get right back on! 10 pounds is awesome!!! Keep going and it will be 10 more!!! Look at the big picture then take the baby steps towards it!!! I have a good feeling about you! You are very insightful and I know you will get there! It just takes

T I M E.......!

Has anyone read this months Prevention Magazine? I have a subscription to it and I love it. It is really motivating! Anyway, there are some great articles in there (I think you can also get it at their website). There is also one "success story" and the woman said when people ask her how she lost her weight she says, "Patience and HARD WORK". That is the only diet out there! I particularly liked her story. Anyway, thought I would mention.

OK, my last post - I promise

This is a daily tip from JC and I thought I would share:

My, aren't we profound on here today!

Actually, I second everything Donna said. I was really thinking just about the same thing last night. I have been doing a very good job of maintaining - and that is good. That means that once I reach my goal, I know what to do to maintain it! But first I need to reach my goal. And I can't reach it without hard work! That small piece of cake is NOT going to get me to goal. It isn't gonna destroy everything I've done, but it isn't gonna help me lose weight. So I need to refocus, cut out all the little small bites and cheats and get SERIOUS! Once I've gotten down the road a bit, then I can sneak a taste here and there, but doing it a little bit each day does not work!

Anita, thanks for your comments as well. Very thought provoking. It just serves to reaffirm what I've been thinking about!!

Today went very well up until Michelle asked for pizza. That is a downfall for me. But the rest of the day was OP and good. So I am moving in the right direction. However, as testament to what I said above, that slip will not help me reach goal. So I need to "step away" for a little while until I lose a few.

I am going to go reread my books and get back into the right mindset! Have a happy Valentines Day!!

TTFN- Sharon

Man, sorry I missed this one! My boyfriend cooked me a wonderful, healthy dinner last night (except for the cake) and gave me a certificate for a professional photography sitting (and not cheesy Glamour Shots, thank God!) that has to be used within 90 days. Great motivation! I don't want everyone who comes into his office from now until eternity to see my chubby cheeks!!!