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

Writing this journal twice a week is the first time I’ve really reflected on ONE subject for such a long time. Really reflected on it. It’s been 7 weeks since we started the Best Life Program. As of last Friday, I’d lost a total of 4 pounds. Down 6. Up 2. Four weeks of Phase I. Three weeks (already?!) of Phase II.

Phase I was really significant for me. I started eating on schedule–3 times a day, 2 snacks. Working out consistently and hard 3 times a week. Stopped eating at least 2 hours before bedtime. Am conscious about getting lean protein, whole grains and complex carbs. More conscious about eating enough, not too many, calories–per meal, per day. About carrying good snacks and water so I don’t spend money on eating out or eating junk (and paying for it in more ways than one). I’ve become more aware of how when I eat and what I eat affects how hungry I get and what I crave later in the day, or night. I’ve really noticed how much sleep or the lack of it affects how hungry I am and what types of food I reach for.  I’ve experienced anew how my fatiqued, undisciplined body responds within just a few weeks, to being pushed way beyond what I thought it could do exercise-wise. Muscles that cramped up after just a few squats now carry me across a very large room and back 2, sometimes 3 times. After a whole hour of “boot camp” I used to leave the gym quivering and exhausted. Now, I feel energized and strong. And I’ve learned to say the word “NO” (thank you) when offered food or drink that I don’t REALLY want, or if I’m not really hungry.

Have I followed the “Best” behaviors listed above for all 7 weeks? Do pigs fly? Do cows yodel? No way. But taking stock of where I am now and where I was 7 weeks ago, I’ve come a long, long way. This does seem to be a really slow boat to a really far away land, however. And it seems I’m kind of wandering around Phase I, still.

In Phase II, we’re supposed to up the ante exercise-wise. Increase our workouts to 5 cardio on top of the 3 weight training circuits. I can’t say that I’ve done that more than one week’s worth. But I’m still going 3 times a week to one of the toughest workouts I’ve ever done. And missed only 2 days due to a bad cold. Not bad.

And considering my hunger level before and after I eat is a real eye opener.  I’m even going to bed hungry most nights, knowing that it’s good to be hungry when I wake up the next morning.

Then there were the graham crackers. I never thought I’d lose control over a package of graham crackers. I’m ashamed to admit it but it’s true. But I used to eat several bowlfuls of real ice cream. The super-high butterfat kind. The kind that leaves an oil slick in your mouth your next meal slips off of. And hot fudge sundaes, french fries (my personal choice for “last meal on earth”) and portions fit for a 6′ 5″ pro wrestler. By eating more often, more wisely MUCH of the time, these slip ups are much less frequent and MUCH less over-the-top. MUCH LESS! But I do slip up. Those 2 returning pounds don’t lie. Do I feel guilty. Nah! I’m not really the “feeling guilty” type.

When does eating auto-pilot happen? As my past journal entries remind me, when I’m bored, sitting in front of the tv, bored, waiting too long between meals, bored, tired and sleep deprived, bored…Oh, yeah, and when I’m bored. I’m sure that I’ll come up with other challenging situations in the days, weeks, months ahead.

But so far, no matter how often I’ve fallen off this very slow moving wagon, I’ve seemed to climb back on. Maybe I’ve been able to do that because it IS going so slowly…