December has so many things I love. Christmas, the opportunity to see family, first snow, the brisk weather, and of course the seemingly annual Oklahoma appearance in the Big XII championship game. This December, however, has a new wrinkle. Every party has delicious, high calorie foods. The extra busy days lead to poor discipline with meal timing, which leads to me feeling hungrier than I actually should. The colder weather sends my body into "storage" mode, which exacerbates the already difficult task of staying on top of my diet. I have a few things working for me, but I think it is wise to put the challenges out there so that they can be in the forefront of my awareness.
So now that the challenges are named, how do I beat them? As I said, I have some things going for me. My new job is pretty flexible with time, and I work a 2 minute walk from my apartment. I have been able to eat at home often since starting, and that has been one of the keys to my success throughout the process. The more I eat at home, especially home cooked meals, the more weight I lose. It also saves some money, which is a nice bonus. This December I also have 10 months of work and experience behind me to prepare me for the challenges. The fact that I refuse to ever go back to the way I was, that I have only gained weight once or twice in 10 month, and the fact that everybody knows about it are huge motivating factors. I enjoy being right more than any food item you can offer. None of this is to say I am going to avoid every single pitfall. I plan to indulge a bit: its Christmas. I just know how to make the better choice, even when indulging. I have the tools for success, and I am going to need all of them this month. That being said, knowledge is power and one of the biggest reasons for my success has been this blog. I am able to plan, voice my concerns, and take a wider view of the potential challenges I face, not to mention the incredible advice I've gotten from your comments. So the challenges will come here first. Expect some posts.
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The blog is a bit like confession (in which you are appropriately steeped), personal commitment to authenticity, and - in a way - serves as a 12 step sponsor. Step one is awareness and realizing that there is a power that pulls you where you don't want to go, if left unchallenged. In a weight control program some years ago a friend of mine had an epiphany (timely, huh) one day and said, "You write down what you eat, you lose weight. You don't - you don't." A little Yogi Berra in his expression but, like Yogi, quotable and true. Pulling for you, son.
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