Last week I was talking to a friend who would like to lose weight and the discussion we had sounded so familiar to me. It sort of went like this:
Her: I start off doing really well and then something gets in the way and messes me up
Me: Like what stuff
Her: I exercise for a week and then someone brings pizza over and I eat two slices and think, wow I just blew my diet
Me: But it is only one meal
Her: I know but I figure I ruined it all so I stop exercising
Me: Because of two slices of pizza, heck I can eat three sometimes. It never stops me
Her: but you are skinny
Me: But it took me two years to get here
Her: But you exercise
Me: Yeah, so I can eat two slices of pizza:-)
Her: I just cannot do it
Me: What?
Her: Get back on track if I have a bad day
Me: Just keep trying, it will eventually come together

I remeber when I was at the begining stages of my journey. I did not eat pizza, drink alchol, eat chips, eat cheese, eat out anywhere for at least the first 4 months. I worked hard until Christmas Eve (my favorite holiday) and I ate and drank that night. After that it was another 2 months before I allowed myself to indulge in any triggers! After that I felt pretty confident that I was on the right track, but for those first 6 months, I was known as the diet and exercise drill sargeant. Now my life (4 years later has changed)...see below!

Okay, so I went out for lunch today and I ordered a piece of "Stuffed" pizza. Probably not the best choice on a weight loss mission (although I am close to where I want to be I would love to lose 5 more pounds...I have said this for the last year). But there are several reasons why I am not stressing over my food choices today.

1. I exercised 4 days this week (so far) and have yoga scheduled for tomorrow morning.
2. I have my workout planned for Sunday already
3. It is Friday and usually always splurge on Fridays
4. I had oatmeal and a nectarine for breakfast and have not had anything else after my big lunch
5. I turned down potato chips and strawberry shortcake after lunch
6. I will be back on track tomorrow

There is no reason to throw in the towel after one slip. Just get on that treadmill for an extra 15 minutes, take a walk around the block with your dog an extra time during the day, take the steps, park far from the door. Find opportunities to make up for that slip or poor food choice. Its not an all or nothing adventure, sometimes it is chipping away a stone at a time only to find you cause a small rock slide...nothing you cannot overcome, just something that temporarily blocked your path!!!!!!!!