HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!
It's a rainy, cool morning here in the sunshine state and I am in my studio getting ready to paint for a while. I guess I should go get some candy in case we have trick-or-treaters tonight. We had none last year but it was raining then too. Due to clear by tonight or so the weather report goes. We'll see. Candy in the house is not not my biggest temptation, and I can always take the rest to the store or to church.
I can't believe there's only 60 days left in the year 2011. What a year it has been! I am getting back to my normal routine but the last few weeks have been a challenge. I haven't even done my regular weigh-in, but I will be back at the gym tomorrow and will deal with Mr. Scales at that point.
In addition to many other things I have learned this past year and a half, it is the importance of planning my food and exercise ahead when I know I am going to be incredibly busy, which is a lot of the time. It is a key factor for successful weight loss and achieving a healthy lifestyle. This was something I did very well over the summer but let slip a bit in October. It strongly illustrates the importance and power of journaling, logging food and exercise, it not only helps to keep me on track and focused on my LTP, but also provides an accounting that can be reviewed and evaluated as time goes on.
In years past when I attempted (many times) weight loss and healthy eating, if I encountered a bump in the road in the form of gaining back weight or a bad life experience, it would send me back down that old familiar road of self-loathing and feeling like a failure which would lead to more bad behavior, and would ultimately lead to me giving up and abandoning my plan. It was an easy out.
The biggest difference between then and now is the positive way I perceive myself and the steadfast belief that I will succeed despite setbacks that are bound to occur. I remember a scene from Fried Green Tomatoes when Kathy Bate's character Evelyn was putting back up a bedroom wall that she had previously demolished in front of her much perplexed husband. When questioned about her actions and what exactly had changed she replied "the air and the light". That's exactly the way I feel, even though I haven't demolished any walls and rebuilt them. Yet. The air and the light have been let in to my soul and is nuturing a person that is becoming all that she can be. The only limitations are ones I impose on myself.
As we get ready for a busy holiday season I think it is important to start planning now, the last day of October. With a good solid eating and exercise plan in the pocket it will ensure a fun but healthy holiday and avoid all those nasty feelings of guilt and shame, and replace them with positive feelings of pride and accomplishment. I will not be one of those people that on January 2nd declare it's time for a change and rush headlong into a "diet" and hit the gym so hard that it hits back! That day will just be another day for me. Yep.
One day at a time, girlfriend. Slow and steady wins the race! And it fosters the right kind of air and light.
Now, off to go buy some candy for OTHERS to enjoy. I'll have an apple thank you.
Peace.
