Getting My Life and My Body In Balance
(And Staying There. Starting Now.)

Here I am at home for the third day in a row, nursing a cold and feeling out of the loop. I missed my Wednesday night workout, and opportunity to touch base with the rest of the girls, my Best Life teammates, and tonight I’m bowing out again. I plan on being back (”I’LL BE BACK!”) for the usual killer workout on Sunday morning. I really miss just seeing the other gals. This whole time-out is giving me pause to reflect on what works for me, what I need to work on and how individual each of our experiences is regarding losing weight, getting in shape and just plain progressing with our (my) goals.

I know without a shadow of a doubt that right now at this moment in my life, I thrive in a group environment that includes accountability and sharing. Not to the extent of constant checking in, just periodically “being there”.  I suspected I needed this before, but now, being isolated temporarily at home, I’m very clear how important it is to me. It’s kind of a reality check with a bit of social interaction. Sometimes it’s more than that. Last Sunday, Anna brought me a gift: a colossal jar of hot giardinera, because she knew I loved it. How sweet (& HOTTTT!!!!!) is that!?! Another week Lakita gave me a whole pack of vanilla yogurt. Again, she knew I liked it. The thought really did count. Thank you again, girls…

In reading the other girls’ journals I’m reminded that what may resonate with me is not the case with others. For example, Lakita mentioned that she finds working out alone to be more effective for her. Looking at how different each of our lives is may be a key. I am often alone. I never had children and my husband and I worked different schedules on and off for many, many years. Since November I’ve worked in a small design studio with only one or two other people. A far cry from a buzzing office or retail environment. The only time I’m surrounded by lots of people is during a trade show or trunk show where I deal with the public and buyers. This is very sporadic–not a day-to-day occurance. During these heavily-social events I do prefer solitude for my off-hours. Lakita is a new mother with the constant demands of a baby. I’ll bet if I were in her (workout) shoes I’d relish time alone to workout too! I do feel for you L, and know that you feel for me and the rest of us too! I believe that each of us must be true to what works for us. And surround ourselves with people that support us in achieving it.

In Phase II of the Best Life program, Bob Greene talks about ”Eliminating Emotional Eating Step By Step”. This week, we are supposed to be tuning in to our hunger levels, from 1-starving to 10-nauseatingly full, both before and after we eat. Mary Ellen explained this very eloquently in her last journal entry. Well, feeling the feeling in my stomach/physical being is one thing. Separating my true hunger ques from my emotional feelings is another! Being home with little else to do should make it easier, right? Wrong!!! All the tasks I often wish I had the time to do are staring me in the face. Now I have the time to do them and all I want to do is sleep or eat. Is it possible to always be at a “3″ (uncomfortable-your stomach is rumbling)? Or is that just my subconscious telling me to be productive? I won’t know until I actually am productive, will I? Bob also mentions that it may take time before we feel that engaging in other things is as pleasurable as eating…

Well, as soon as I get up from the computer I’m going to start one of my aforementioned dreaded projects: decluttering. I think I’ll start with 15 minutes of it. Then I’ll check my emotional and physical hunger scale. I hope I’m at a “6″ –perfectly satisfied.