The last 10 days or so have been a major step in the right direction. I've started being more productive during the day, and limiting my Facebook/internet time until later at night (for the most part). My eating has gotten more controlled, and while not totally where I'd like to be, it's a HUGE improvement. All in all, I'm feeling pretty positive. I actually saw the scale go down last week, and that helped me feel like I've moved in the right direction.
I was able to find a really nice park to check out, and have been there twice since the weekend. It's got lots of hills, so walking/hiking there is a good workout. There are benches scattered about, so after doing a bunch of walking, I rewarded myself at one of the ones at the top of a hill to do some birdwatching while I waited for my husband and my nephew, who were there bike riding (they are training for triathlons).
The really spectacular weather this week in our area has made me really itchy to get outside, so tomorrow starts the yard work/spring cleanup in earnest. I expect to be able to gain a lot of activity points, since there's so much to be done. Picking up sticks (where on earth DO they all come from?), weeding and mulching should keep me hopping. I can't wait until the cleanup is finished, though - even though we had a mild winter, my yard looks like a disaster area!
So that's where things are right now.. in progress!
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
It's Been a While
Hi all! It's been a long time (over a month) since I've written. Mostly it's because I've been doing some hard thinking - really taking a good look at myself and my behaviors. Trying to figure out what's gone wrong, and why my progress has taken such a bad turn. I'm up and down, gaining and losing the same weight. I had to face the harsh truth that it was about 9 months ago when I was at my best weight, before my trip to San Francisco. And even then, it had been a while since I had seen the scale move significantly. To be honest, the last 18 months or so on this journey have been disastrous. My weight is still up from where it was, and all progress I made in January I erased in February.
So I've been thinking about my motivations, and my penchant for self-sabotage, and my fears of really being successful. And what I have come to realize about myself is this.... I'm lazy. I spent a long time doing the work, and seeing results. And just like what happened in the past, I got a little loose with things, and a little cocky. And I stopped working so hard. Hence the mess I find myself in now.
But I realize that it isn't just the weight loss work, although that's a big chunk of the problem. It's life in general - I've been skating on housework and maintenance as well. I've become terrible at managing my time, and lazy about doing the things I find tedious or difficult. And just like with the weight loss, the results are not good. Setting the ship to right requires major effort.
So I spend my time doing things I enjoy, like dopping around online. Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest - lots of time goes to those activities. I see work that needs to be done and instead of doing it, I add it to my mental checklist of stuff I gotta do. And as things add to that list pretty quickly, I get overwhelmed and do nothing. So it's time to put myself on a diet, internet-wise. So at this time of night, when I'm waiting for the cat to return from his outside adventure for the evening, it's ok to spend some time blowing off steam online. But I have to cool it during the day, unless I've actually accomplished what I've set out to do that day. I think that's the only way for now.
And from a Weight Watchers perspective, that means I'll have more time to shop, search recipes, cook and get in activity. Now that spring is upon us, that becomes easier for me, since there's so many outdoor chores that need doing. I think that the only way to regain control is to simply seize it. If I'm right, there will be a positive domino effect in the near future.
So posts may get further and fewer, as well as FB status updates. But if all goes like I believe it can, and I gain control over my schedule, I'll be able to find a good balance. And that's the key! So it's off now to set a few concrete goals for this coming week, and put the finishing touches on the To-Do list!
So I've been thinking about my motivations, and my penchant for self-sabotage, and my fears of really being successful. And what I have come to realize about myself is this.... I'm lazy. I spent a long time doing the work, and seeing results. And just like what happened in the past, I got a little loose with things, and a little cocky. And I stopped working so hard. Hence the mess I find myself in now.
But I realize that it isn't just the weight loss work, although that's a big chunk of the problem. It's life in general - I've been skating on housework and maintenance as well. I've become terrible at managing my time, and lazy about doing the things I find tedious or difficult. And just like with the weight loss, the results are not good. Setting the ship to right requires major effort.
So I spend my time doing things I enjoy, like dopping around online. Facebook, Tumblr, Pinterest - lots of time goes to those activities. I see work that needs to be done and instead of doing it, I add it to my mental checklist of stuff I gotta do. And as things add to that list pretty quickly, I get overwhelmed and do nothing. So it's time to put myself on a diet, internet-wise. So at this time of night, when I'm waiting for the cat to return from his outside adventure for the evening, it's ok to spend some time blowing off steam online. But I have to cool it during the day, unless I've actually accomplished what I've set out to do that day. I think that's the only way for now.
And from a Weight Watchers perspective, that means I'll have more time to shop, search recipes, cook and get in activity. Now that spring is upon us, that becomes easier for me, since there's so many outdoor chores that need doing. I think that the only way to regain control is to simply seize it. If I'm right, there will be a positive domino effect in the near future.
So posts may get further and fewer, as well as FB status updates. But if all goes like I believe it can, and I gain control over my schedule, I'll be able to find a good balance. And that's the key! So it's off now to set a few concrete goals for this coming week, and put the finishing touches on the To-Do list!
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