Getting Enough?

I feel terrible for being off-line for so long. No worries though, my lack of writing does not mean I was off plan. Actually, I have been kicking some butt lately! My 4th of July/Labor Day challenge has resulted in just about 12 pounds of weight loss so far. I still have one full week to cap it off. Not bad for two months. Nice and consistent. It does help that I am continuing my stormy love affair with the elliptical machine- we have a sick and twisted relationship, so Mike doesn't have to worry... Yet.

It hasn't all been smiles though, work and back to school demands are definitely testing my ability to avoid stress eating. I'll even admit that some days I am the rock and other days... more of a giant jelly fish. Still, I have been able to stay on plan and avoid the spiral I typically would fall victim to when faced with some of the time management challenges. I think one of the things that has helped me the most was that three coworkers joined my WW meeting and another is considering. Helping them to understand the plan definitely helps me to stay more focused and cognizant of what I am doing on a day to day basis.

I'll share.

The first two weeks have been a bit hard on them. They are trying so hard, but seem to want to fall into old habits of eliminating almost all foods. They do this all day long so they can have more available points come the end of the day. Of course, come 6pm they are absolutely starving and the flood gates open and it becomes much harder to control what goes in. I can't blame them, I used to tell myself that smelling the salad bar counted as a vegetable serving! Oh, how the tables have turned, now I have become a loud and obnoxious drill sergeant, "More fruits, More Vegetables, More Water, More, More, More!"

We all know that in general we eat too much sugar, salt, and saturated fats... heck, most of us have a tendency too eat too much period! But what my journey with WW has taught me is that we eat or get too little of some items too. Whole grains, healthy oils/fish, fiber, vitamins/minerals, and exercise... so this week we are working ourselves out of the "but I don't like it" stage.

So I tried to recall what did it for me? What helped me to limit the "I wants" and focus on the "I needs?"

Hmmm... I guess I am a results oriented girl. Yes, this all takes some effort - Nothing new there. OHHH... but the great results. I'm not just talking scale here! Reducing my weight is helping me to avoid diseases and deficiencies too. I am literally lengthening my lifespan! I do have weeks where I am tempted to grumble about only losing .2 lbs, but it helps to mentally picture what I can do in 5 days. 5 days is the number I use to represent .2 of an 80 year lifespan. While it is definitely not scientific or factual; it keeps me from complaining about how little I lost and focus on what I have gained.

As they begin to see the results of all their efforts, I hope my coworkers realize that they are doing a great job! I know this is hard on them, but I am so very proud of all of their work. It gets easier- hang in there. Here comes week three- lets try some new foods!

P.S.
More Veggies!