ok, i was out of town for business for 3 days this week. the days were pretty long and grueling, and i had a migraine for one day and a strained neck the other! most importantly, my eating habits WERE so different because I was not at home where I could prepare and eat WHAT i wanted WHEN i wanted. i felt like crap, plus there was no workout facility (even though I thought there was when i booked the hotel), so i took up walking as exercise instead of something more vigorous and relaxing like running or the eliptical.

i think i lived like the "Average American" for those three days-- eating out (even though I was pretty successful at choosing healthier options), exhausted from work, not able to adequately exercise for my skill level, etc. being lonely, stressed, and fatigued did not help.

my victory-- living like that used to feel "normal." all of the diet and exercise changes i have made are definitely a LIFESTYLE change, not temporary, because I can't live the "normal" way anymore! i now have a great faith in myself that i will never fall totally OFF the wagon and revert to that again.

i bet most of you don't realize how much you have improved your eating/exercise/lifestyle habits. i occasionally eat too much, but in the long-run i am doing pretty good so give yourselves a minute to realize all the non-obvious progress you have made!