Back on Track Week

"The golden opportunity you are seeking is in yourself. It is not in your environment, it is not in luck or chance, or the help of others; it is in yourself alone."
– Orison Swett Marden

This week, I am beginning my journey of change. I am taking a graduate course at Penn State University this week, and during one of the presentations, the speaker showed a slide that said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result." Of course, this immediately made me think of my weight loss journey. In order to get a different result, I have to do something differently.

So far this week...Back on Track Week...has been a good beginning to my journey of change. I know I'm only into day 3 of a very very VERY long journey, but I've already learned and applied some different approaches.

1. Planning meals- I have been given the opportunity to eat out every day this week, either through the cafe or a local restaurant. I have packed a lunch everyday this week and it has made a big difference for me in terms of my food choices.
2. A few bites uneaten-I have decided to leave a few bites of everything I eat to help me reduce portion size and control calorie intake. I've considered this concept before, but never really implemented it consistently. I've thought about my eating habits and how I finish every bite. But what if candy bars (for example) were one inch shorter? I would only eat until it was gone and not go looking for that extra bite.
Last night, I was eating a cupcake at vacation bible school when Willie dropped the last piece onto the floor. Instead of getting upset....never mind. AFTER getting upset initially, I thought, "Thanks, Willie! You just got rid of my last two bites for me!" I cleaned it up and was perfectly fine!!
3. Active lifestyle-While I love to exercise, I am realizing that it's more important to stay actie throughout the day rather than have one hard session on the treadmill. I have been going for a quick walk on every break that we've had during my graduate course.
4. Building independence and competency-One key to my journey of change has to do with my son. This week, we are bringing him back into his bedroom at night to sleep. More on this later, but I feel that this is a really GOOD opportunity to help my son develop independence and feel safe/secure despite his parents not being right next to him. It has been a scary, tenuous step, but one that I'm praying about.
5. Consistency- I don't want to ruin the progress I'm making during Back on Track week. So last night when a hostess chocolate cupcake was calling me name, I actually put it back into the closet. I thought, "If I eat this cupcake, I will gain back the two pounds that I lost today."
So I put it back and left it there!! This is going to be KEY this weekend as I navigate special occasions on Saturday and Sunday. I don't want to regain what I've lost this week. It's too hard and discouraging to keep gaining and losing the same 20 pounds. I must be a conscious eater EVERY DAY!
6. Taking Multivitamins and supplements.
7. Keeping a food journal-not a new concept, but a proven one. If I don't keep a food journal, I don't watch what I eat.
Back on Track week...it's here. It's now. It's happening.