I’m not eating between meals and I’m not going to take seconds. Just today. And I’m going to try it for a year to see what happens.
A year ago I weighed the most ever — and the most I’ll ever weigh. Since my early teens I gained weight most years. Luckily there were those few years every now and then where I’d successfully lose weight and maintain the weightloss for a year or three. But, a year ago, I knew I had to do something — and couldn’t imagine what.
I just didn’t have the heart to do the weightloss thing knowing that it was only a temporary measure. And that in all likelihood, all that weight and another ten or fifteen pounds would be back soon enough. Because sooner or later life makes it just too difficult to focus on a mere diet. Births, deaths, weddings, holidays, illness, boredom — all the elements of our lives will eventually overshadow the discipline I need to follow any conventional diet.
I mention this because I’ve successfully navigated several of those events in the last 3 months. In addition to the holidays, we had a huge family wedding/reunion in December, and while my sprained ankle was the most minor of sprains, it still totally disrupted the pattern of my life — and not in a good way.
Today I’m lookin back at the last 3 months (December, January and February) and realizing that if I wasn’t following my commitment – Just Today – through that period, I would be lost. The momentum of those successful months would be long gone. And it’s very likely that instead of losing 10 or 15 pounds, I could have gained it.
I want to repeat — I am not following a diet. I eat whatever I want. I eat the same meals as the rest of my family and we eat them together. If we’re on the run, I eat fast food — just like anyone else (luckily I live in a family that doesn’t like fast food).
But by focusing on Just Today for each of these days, I proved that I’ve put the brakes on weight gain forever. Or at least as long as I’m committed to Just Today.
I meant to comment earlier on this … This is really inspiring katieb — thank you for posting.
Thanks, Olivia. I’m glad it’s appreciated. These reflections are becoming an important part of my day.
It’s fine about the book. I haven’t got a copy yet anyhow, and I really want to participate !
And, of course, you need to get well.
I am under a great deal of stress right now, so I can’t say I’ve been observing things perfectly, but I’m trying very hard to keep it together.
The biggest problem continues to be exercise. It just isn’t happening the way it should and I guess the stress is a part of it. Of course exercise is good for relieving stress as we all know. So why can’t I get to it ?
Any thoughts ?
Hi catdog — thank you for the supportive advise. I think I’ve been feeling a little down (probably worn-down is a better term) and wondering if doing this blog is a silly-waste-of-time. But, it really does work the way I wanted: it’s a great support group. How else would I have woken up to such a kind message.
I’m worried about the exercise issue too. Between the super-busy-ness at work and being sick but not able to take time off, I definately don’t have time to exercise the way I’d like. And because I don’t really know what’s wrong, I’m not sure I should exercise.
And even though I understand that, I’m worried about breaking-the-habit.
It seems like a similar situation to your stress issue. Identifying the reason doesn’t make it any easier to exercise each day.
I’ve even dropped it as a goal for the last week or so.
So, like you, it’s a subject I’ve been thinking about. But, I haven’t come up with a solution. Or even a viable experiment.
I’d love to talk about it though. Maybe we could develop some ideas together?