Abbagedden

The End of my Stomach as We Know it!  It has been long said that 2012 was foreseen as the end of times.  Times for my belly to be jelly.  The Mayans have spoken!

Cheating on My Diet

I probably don't think about 'Cheating' the same way that others do.  How can you cheat on your diet if you are right there.  Don't you know when your cramming donuts into your piehole?  I guess we can forget the amount of holiday cookies crushed into oblivion or mis-remember the actual amount of liquids imbibed during seasonal parties.  The point is that cheating is doing something and getting away with it.  Record amounts of sweets in a two week period will not let you get away with anything.  This is not cheating, it is temporary failing.  Quickly changed by getting back on track!

Cheating is liposcution; it is bariatric surgery; it is starving yourself.  These short-cuts may truly have a significant medical benefit and even some health improvements.

Let me be clear that there are reasons why individuals, for their health, use these procedures.  However, for a great many of us, for me, it seems like cheating.  From a spiritual perspective, should I not try to understand and correct my habitual issues?  Should I not try to support the temple with behaviors?  If I have a procedures and don't change my habits, what is the longterm benefit?

I must learn to change my thoughts and my actions.  I 100% believe that it can be done.  I might be predisposed to overweightness and a slower metabolism, but I get to decided what I eat, when I eat and how much I eat.  DNA is not structured to drive us toward Twinkies (may they rest in peace).  If genetics are the reason for obesity, why the dramatic increase in the last 3 decades? 

That's a ridiculous excuse.  I must take responsibility!  I will!

Difficulties Continue

I am in the "I'll change soon mode", except that I am not changing.  Weight is still going up.  Now I have the false security of New Year's to buoy my spirits.  I realize that there is nothing trully magical about that day, but I am still counting on it as a switch to enlightenment and success.

I am not eating at home; I am not planning or preparing food; I am not working out; I am not attending church.  I am basically not trying.  I guess the good thing is that I am not disappointed per se, but I should be.  How can I be disappointed if I am not trying? (anyone else use this ploy in life?)  But if nothing else, my temporary setback equates to a longer road to success and that does matter.

Will today be different?  Probably not, I am not mentality prepared yet.  Why?  I am not sure.  The dangerous thing is that I know that I will get there.  It is dangerous because I know I will get there so why not procrastinate longer?  Ugh!

Lesson to be learned?  Consider that an unbalanced life stresses what is a challenge and leads to what is comfortable.  Giving up new habits is quickly and strongly related to stressful periods of life.  Stress will continue to come to me, but I can work on stress management, decreasing the risk of triggers and improve my coping skills.

Am I resolved?  Not yet.

The Holidays Again?!

It is the time of year!

That's right high blood glucose, extra calories, gluttonous eating, shameful thoughts, stretchy pants, etc.  Regardless of the results of the holiday eating schedule, consider what 2013 has in store.  Begin your planning.

I am trying to get my schedule fixed so that I know when I will have down time to cook and be active.  I am looking forward to a great opportunity for health in 2013.  I know that it will not come by accident, I have to go find it. 

220.0

Time to Find Some Peer Pressure

A recent study done at Kansas State University, shows that we perform better during workouts when working in a group setting.  The idea is that accountability and social pressure help an individual to work harder and just plain show up.

It's time to get some friends. 219.4

What do your Actions Say about your Attitude?

I look at my lunch box/bag and shake my head.  I consider getting up early and packing my food but don't.  I rationalize a reason to eat out but don't enjoy it.

The mind is willing but the flesh is weak?...I had an interesting conversation with a student about Free Will.  His assertion was that we actually don't have free will.  That instead, we are programmed by generations of actions that cause us to act the way we act.  I see his point, but believe that it is a cop-out.

By no means am I a Biblical scholar, and the fact that God has offered us free-will but already knows our story can at times make my brain hurt.  But, I feel that our attitude and actions together tell the story about how we feel about our habits.  I may have tendencies and genetics or evolution and history against me, but every time I am still choosing to do or do not.

How can I have such success one season and such struggles another?  Is it because my DNA coding has changed or evolution has evolved.  It seems that my current state (of mind or stress, etc.) is what the difference is.  So I can change those areas to help influence my success...and I can pray for focus, to resolve the triggers, for health, for opportunity, for positive influence!

How do you truly feel about change?  Can you?  Do you really even want to? 220.2

Accountability Partner

Many people know that I am trying to lose weight and/or maintain my weight loss.  But, I just recently asked someone to keep me accountable. Someone to ask me routinely about how I am doing.  Accountability is very important to me.  I can easily change the expectations for myself, but my partner has a job to do and it does make me think differently. 

On top of that, I have a bet in place to help with motivation.  These two tools can be very effective in trying to help with a change in your habits.

One trick is that you cannot have your partner change their mind about the goals agreed to and, you cannot get mad at your partner for doing what you asked.  Be careful who you get help from and how the relationship might change.  It can be done!

220.2, with beard.  Decided to grow it back.  I will reshave once I am below 200 again, stupid busy schedule.  Stupid excuse :)

Short Term First

Long-term goals are easy; lose weight, read the Bible, get out of debt.  You know the big 3.

But the short-term goals are the guideposts to reach the long-term goals.  They can be trickier.  But without them, a good procrastinator can put off change until they forget what it once was that they wanted to change.  This week I plan to lose 1.5 pounds.

220.0

It is Worse Than I Thought

Mental fatigue...check!
Too much going on...check!
Ready to change...check!!!!

I am up to 220.6, by far the heaviest in a very long time.  Nevertheless, the only way that I fail is to stop trying.  That being said, I can only expect something different when I behave differently.  I will be done.