- Photo courtesy of Google Images.
When we give up dieting, we take back something we were often too young to know we had given away: our own voice. Our ability to make decisions about what to eat and when. Our belief in ourselves. Our right to decide what goes into our mouths. Unlike the diets that appear monthly in magazines or the thermal pants that sweat off pounds, unlike a lover or a friend or a car, your body is reliable. It doesn’t go away, get lost, stolen. If you will listen, it will speak.~Geneen Roth~
Well, ten days left. It’s hard to believe that 90 days have already passed. Here’s the update.
Eating
It is going well, but some days are better than others. My husband and I keep going back and forth a bit on eating, trying to keep our choices somewhat low in carbs, but counting our calories. Even with carbs, we are making the right choices, and using moderation, which I think is the key to this whole thing. I’m just not the kind of girl who is never going to eat a piece of bread ever again….and I think that is okay. But maybe I am the kind of girl who will choose whole grain instead of white. Now, I must be honest….does the menu feel a smidge repetitive at times? Oh my lord, yes. But, we are working on it…we are changing our lifestyle, so it’s going to take a bit to learn new recipes etc.
Exercise
I am a faithful step taker. 10,000 per day. Sometimes that comes easy, and others, I feel I may need to sleepwalk to achieve the target, but I usually reach it. I love to hear that beautiful watch alarm for my Bodybugg, announcing “Your step count has been achieved.” I could tell you I am enjoying every step, but that would be a bold-faced lie. Some days, as soon as I hear the first chirp of that watch alarm, I press stop on the treadmill and can’t jump off that thing fast enough. But, I am moving faster than I ever have, and I am jogging for longer periods….feeling good about the strides I’ve made.
I do need to continue to work on strength training. I have not made it a priority, and it has probably stunted my results somewhat. I hate to admit that, but I need to fess up. I will keep trying in this department.
Emotions
When I was growing up, we used food to celebrate events. We also used food when consoling another in times of trouble. We used food in quiet times. There was summer special food and winter special food. We had cookies that were tucked safely away for “the company” in the deep freeze. I’m not sure why my mother never put a padlock on that thing, as every time we actually had any “company” she would go to that deep freeze, only to find an empty tin with crumbs rolling around in the bottom.
I tell you this because food has always been a part of the narrative of my life. So, on this journey, I have learned more about the emotional part of my eating than anything else. It hasn’t always been easy to come to terms with the fact that although I feel like a strong woman, I can sometimes have huge crutches I lean on in life, and they are usually made of potato chips and chocolate bars. It’s also not easy to admit that those crutches still sit in my closet. I feel I am more aware of them than I ever have been, but they still exist for me. When life is just not comforting, I want, or need an easy fix. So, do I have this completely figured out yet? Nope. But am I self-aware and really getting there? Absolutely.
And I think that’s the key. I don’t have it all figured out, but I am listening to my body, and realizing that if I become still and really listen, I already have all the answers.
The past 90 days have shown me that it may not always be easy….but it’s worth it.
So, tune in next week for the results! So proud of my husband, for his drive and his support. We’ve already started talking about our next fitness challenge to get ourselves ready for Christmas.
Keep on stepping…
Kelly
