I guess I'm in a funk

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5/7/12 11:04 A

JUJIFRUIT,

Don't look at weight loss or good health with an all or nothing mentality. If you do, you'll end up miserable. If the only healthy thing you were to do for yourself today was to drink 8 glasses of water, that's still a step in the right direction.

Are you worried that you'll over eat at the pot luck ? If you do, do you believe that makes you a bad person ? I sure don't think so. You don't have to give up social events because you're worried you'll eat too much. Just do your best to eat as healthfully and mindfully as possible. Don't eat as if you were never going to see food again. When you go to the pot luck, pick out things that you've never tried before.

Also, will there be booze ? If so, you might want to skip any mixed drinks. Alcoholic beverages really add up (calorie wise) fast. So, if you're trying to watch what you eat, skip the booze. the more a person drinks, the less likely they will be mindful of their portion sizes.

So, why worry about the pot luck ? Just enjoy yourself. Try to watch what you eat, but if you do overeat, you're NOT a bad person and you won't derail any of your efforts at good health either. If you overeat, it means you need to be more mindful of your portions for the rest of the week. You don't have to starve yourself or kill yourself in the gym to compensate. One less than perfect day or meal WILL NOT make or break your healthy lifestyle.

All things in moderation. It's all about finding the right balance. No need for the beatings.

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5/7/12 11:01 A

Hi JUJIFRUIT,

Remember you do not have to have a PERFECT life to have a healthy lifestyle. The potluck does not have to undo all your efforts you are making for the day. Make sure you do not arrive hungry...even eating an 80 calorie apple before you go, can deter you from eating that 400 calorie cake, unless you plan for the cake in your daily calories.

Even if you enjoy yourself tonight, none of us gained our weight from one meal or one holiday, but allowing ourselves to eat that way every day.

For me, the minute I allow myself to eat the foods I enjoy, the minute they no longer carry the stigma...in other words, I know I don't have to have the cake, I may not really care for, because I know I will be able to have something else that I really enjoy later. I do this a lot...why eat an oreo when I love a good home baked chocolate chip cookie. While the oreo is an option, I can have it ANY day, but a home baked cookie, those are a dime a dozen, so I work those into my plan.

This journey is so much more than just eating less and moving more--it is truly about unraveling what I like to call, "the why we do, what we do, when we do it" scenario in our lives and this takes time and introspection.

Hang in there!

Coach Nancy

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5/7/12 10:52 A

I guess I'm in a funk. The thing that made me realize that is this morning I had this thought go through my head: "well, what kind of day will this be....will I try and then give up, or will I just not bother trying at all."

Then I realized how sad that was for me to be thinking that. I mean, wow, to think of those as my only 2 options is a pretty good indicator of my frame of mind.

I try to keep telling myself to trust the process, that this can work for me. But I don't think I really believe that I'm capable of making the changes necessary for me to reach my goals.

And then I think, well, okay, I'll try today, and I'll succeed--oh wait, we have that potluck dinner to go to tonight, that's never going to happen. Oh, and then it;s going to be Mother's day, and i know I'll overindulge then. Oh, and then.......................there's always something coming up where I know it will just be too hard to have self-control with what I eat/ whether i exercise.

So I guess I kind of decided to try and give up today, knowing about the potluck tonight. I had a healthy breakfast. I'm ready to go exercise, and my water bottle is full and ready to drink. So what now? I'm just so discouraged with myself and my lack of self-discipline and my awareness of it, and my resignation and thinking that, oh well, that's just how I am.