The week that was......

WELP.........(with appologies to Elizabeth!) This has been an interesting week. Things have been totally cuckoo at work this week and it has provided me with some interesting insights into my attempts at life-changing. It was a fairly stressful week which has always played havoc with any chance at caloric sanity!! The results have been mixed, but overall fairly satisfying. On the downside: I have not spaced my meals properly and timed my liquid intake properly. Also my exercise has taken a big hit due to lack of time. On the upside, however, despite all of this, I did not resort to a lot of "Stress Eating". This is a major victory!! I did not always make the best choices, but most of them were at least , reasonable. I did not go totally off the deep end when I got stressed out!! In the past, this was never the case. Even Post-Surgery, I have done some seriously bad stress eating. This is a giant step in the right direction. As I predicted.....I have been sneaking back and forth like a smuggler across my personal "Obesity Mason-Dixon Line" of 200 lbs. all week. I'm determined to get south of that line and stay there very soon!! I'm now going to celebrate the end of this work week by leashing up the pooch and going for a nice long walk....with maybe a short sprint or two for for good measure!!........................CHEERS!! Mike

Keep at it Mike. We all seem to forget that we didn't become obese overnight, but somehow think we should become skinny in a very short period of time. I know what you mean about time. My work went crazy, then my family life went cuckoo, and then you add that fact that I spend eight hours a week in Law enforcement training and I took a couple of hits in the old workout department. Kinda tough to rise and shine at 5:00 am to workout when you just went to sleep 4 hours earlier. But what I can share with you is that those days that I really didn't want to get up and work out, but did, I had better days. Studies have shown that the chemicals produced from working out help stress. And a nice walk can do the trick. I have also found for me, that as I'm chugging along my mind tends to clear up and I tend to get a better appreciation of being alive. I didn't beat myself up for missing a couple of days, and just worked to get back into my routine. Your doing great and don't forget to look back at how far you have come.

Thanks Ken; You're right about how the exercise gives me a better outlook on life. I really miss my walks when I don't take them and feel so much better mentally as well as physically when I exercise. While I do occasionally get frustrated, I really do appreciate how far I have come. Just simple things like running up and down stairs were such an effort pre-surgery. Thanks as always for your support and help in keeping my "Eye on the Prize"! Mike

HI Mike, I no what you mean about the stress eating, its been pretty hectic with me too! You actually made it below that 200, so I know you will see it again. I haven't been doing any exercising lately & I know thats what is keeping mine from moving. I do walk the stairs at work instead of that elevator thing, but that isn't enough & I no it. One of the other board I am on we post everything were eating & I have done that for a few days & it has helped me to figure out what I am actuall consuming in a day instead of guessing at it. You might try it & see if it helps. It seems to help me be a little more agressive on the protein when I am posting for someone else to see. Hang in there We all do the stress eating thing, & you have learned how to curb that pretty good. so Hang in There. Marilyn, the Bearlady

Thanks Marilyn; I don't think that you should downplay the small things like taking the stairs at work. In some ways, I think that they are at least as important as the formal exercise. The more active we are throughout the day, the more total calories we burn. When I think back on the bad old days, I realize that I went out of my way to stay stationary. I would save up a bunch of things to take upstairs before I would get up off of my big butt to do it!! Now I take extra trips whenever possible. I also try to do other small things like park in the back of the parking lot instead of close to the store. It all adds up in the end. It sounds like you have a good handle on the food consumption issue which certainly will help you in the long rum. This is certainly a long-term job which we have all taken on here and, as always, I appreciate your encouragement. Mike

Thanks Mike, Too bad you are clear across the country, sure would like to meet you in person, as well as your family. I sure doubt that I will ever get back to that part of the world. The desert is pretty much my homestay. You are so positive all of the time. How do you do it? Marilyn, the Bearlady

Don't let me fool you, Marilyn, I'm am the king of self-doubt and pessimism!! I decided that the only way to make a success of this weight loss journey, is to try to stay positive and see the glass as "half full". In my own head, I am constantly battling to push back my natural pessimism. I would love it if we could somehow have a "Marchers Gathering" of some sort, because I would love to meet you and all of the others on this board!! You all prop me up when I need it most. CHEERS Mike

Hang in there Mike! You are doing great! One step at a time. Its hard to do everything all at once. I like to think I can But it never quite works out. Overcomming the stress eating is a big deal and a big accomplishment! Keep your chin up your doing awesome! Elizabeth M

You're absolutely right Elizabeth.....One step at a time is the way to do it! I tend to get impatient when everything doesn't fall into place at the same time, but I know that this is my perfectionism at play one more time. I'm always preaching to you guys that it took years to get to the point of surgery, so we can't expect to change overnight. Maybe I should listen to my own speeches??!!! It seems that despite the occasional setbacks, I'm still making progress slowly, but surely. Thanks as always for your encouragement. Mike

ahhh Mike I am having your last week this week! ugh! My kids have started the summer sport rotation which keps my butt in a chair watching less I miss the most AWESOME PLAY EVER! which I don't want to do! I am hoping to get a good routine this summer and kick back these last 15 pounds! ONLY 15 more days of school! WOOHOO!!!! Hang in there! we are slowly hitting goals now and doesn't THAT just suck after months of drastic changes. At least now our heads can attempt to catch up! you have done so very well and I love the trying to stay positive image it is a working one! Hugs Nic 291-161-150