Just Weight – Jan. 23 - Week #4, Day #2 (Day 23 of 365 - - same weight) Total loss 6.6 lbs, 45.4 to go!

Prove It To Yourself – Sounds easy enough, huh? Not so fast. After gaining yesterday, I did manage to stay the same today. The problem…eating out again. Not once, but twice! Had friends drive through from out of town and met them for Chinese food at noon, then last night a 50th birthday party for one of my best friends. It would be rude not to eat cake, right? It would be rude to only order salad when everyone else is enjoying their entrée, baked potato, and hot bread, right? WRONG. But, too late for me. I used that excuse, I rationalized. Now let’s see, I need flash cards. Whatever happened to Declare Your Position to Others, Do Not Derail, Just Make It Through the Day? I am beginning to understand how important it is to take it one day at a time. This is the point I usually give up and simply say, “I can’t do it.” Well, not this time, friends. If I can lose weight last week while traveling four day, surely I can do it at home. I do not plan to weigh until the end of the week. Today is a new day and I plan to make it perfect. Hmmm, plan seems to be a key word here.

Just Weight – Jan. 22 - Week #4, Day #1 (Day 22 of 365 - gained .8 lbs.) Total loss 6.6 lbs, 45 to go!

My prediction was correct. I did not lose my pound last week, but I did lose .4 pound and am very pleased. Yesterday I repeated the old phrase “Three weeks makes a habit!” I guess that just applies to MOST people. Obviously the habit I am referring to is slow, healthy, weight loss by just eating right. Once a month I meet with a group of friends to solve the world’s problems. We are pretty good at fixing the world, but our own unidentified problem is that we meet in a Mexican food restaurant. Now, if you are one of those people I refer to as “skinny eaters”, you know the type…move their food around on their plate, take two or three bites, push away the chips. Got the picture? Well, obviously, that’s not me we are talking about. Showing up with all good intentions, I failed miserably. I ate half a basket of chips by myself and a complete dinner. Eat Slowly!!! Would have been good to have read this tip this morning rather than referring to my daily menu after lunch! Lesson for today, scan entire daily menu the night before, the morning of, and commit the daily quote to memory for 24 hours.

Just Weight – Jan. 21 - Week #3, Day #7 (Day 21 of 365 – lost .4 lbs.) Total loss 7.4 lbs, 44.6 to go!

Three Weeks Makes a Habit! Yes, it’s only been three weeks, but it’s a good start. For me, it’s been a pretty hard three weeks. It’s not the menu plans that are hard to do. In fact, having meal plans right in front of me and groceries in the pantry are a snap. It’s “the rest of the world” out there that interferes. So, in a nutshell, I have behavioral issues that I must overcome. Everyone has the same challenges and I must learn to deal effectively. They say three weeks makes a habit. I would have to say that so far, my habit needs fine tuning. Tomorrow begins a new week and there is comfort in that for me. I am afraid I will not have met my 1 pound loss for this week, but I did not lose any ground and that in itself is a success. I am putting this week to rest. No looking back.

Just Weight – Jan. 20 - Week #3 – Day #6 (Day 20 of 365 – lost .4 lbs.) Total loss 7.0 lbs, 45 to go!

There’s no place like home! Where else can you dance around like a madman and get away with it? Out of town four days and I LOST, yes, LOST, .4 pounds. Now that may not sound like much to you, but I can tell you that it is the first time in my entire life that I went on any trip without gaining weight. Trips have been the backslide result of my weight loss all my life. Yes, yes, yes. I can do this. Could I have done better? Of course. Next time I will. I still cheated way too much, did not drink my water and did not exercise at all. Another day of great motivation. If you can’t be proud of yourself, who will be? Today’s quote is Declare Your Position to Others. I can’t tell you how important I think this is. I used to think it was better to keep it to yourself and not impose on others. No more. That’s just an excuse to eat more and eat the wrong things. Most people will actually try and help you. I am making this declaration to the world today…”I am going to lose weight…my goal… a pound a week”.

Just Weight – Jan. 19 - Week #3 – Day #5 (Day 19 of 365 - same weight) Total loss 6.6 lbs, 45.4 to go!

Breathe Before Each Bite is good for thought and in practice, but after a five hour car ride and three loads of laundry, eating today was just thrown to the wind. I did consciously try to pay attention, but found it impossible to eat right. All I could do was cut back on portions, but that in itself just has to help. The morning “wake up call” will come when I strip down to bare bones and face the scale for the first time in four days. I’m drinking lots of water as that is one area in which I have been very delinquent while traveling.

Just Weight – Jan. 18 - Week #3 – Day #4 (Day 18 of 365 - same weight) Total loss 6.6 lbs, 45.4 to go!

With Do Not Derail as today’s mental plug, I wrote it down on the back of a business card to carry with me throughout the day since I had “meal” meetings at noon and this evening. That one reminder even carried me through an afternoon break at the movie theatre with only a diet coke. I did, however, slip into unconsciousness tonight and ate three pieces of pizza. Not only did I derail, but crashed and burned along the way. Hopefully tomorrow will be better as I will be heading home. I’ve just got to get this travel thing under control!

Just Weight – Jan. 17 - Week #3 – Day #3 (Day 17 of 365 – same weight) Total loss 6.6 lbs, 45.4 to go!

Cereal was easy this morning so I was off to a good start. I attended a beautiful luncheon with excellent speakers, and as I had suspected, a wonderful catered lunch. A green salad was on the table when we arrived, along with a fabulous chocolate mousse decorated as only a professional chef can do. Our plate lunch consisted of a wonderfully juicy chicken breast which was placed on top of mashed potatoes, vegetable medley and rolls. Eat Healthy Food was today’s mental note, so I dutifully ate every bite of the scrumptious chicken, salad and vegetables, turned my back on the table to face the speakers and never once did I look back at that dessert! Egg drop soup and egg roll for dinner.