So here we are at week 10 thinking about last week and what lessons we learned.  I didn’t write a lot this week but it’s the busy season for me doing things for the Raynwater Players show.  No kids in it anymore make it hard to focus on that stuff but I am committed to helping out.  I do what I can but only after my priorities are done which pretty much is the gym.  So, this week here are the things I thought about.

1. You must have will power.  When food calls to you just because it’s in the cabinet that is all you and your lack of being able to say no and be happy that you had all your nutrients for the day.  it’s like smoking or any other bad habit.  it’s up to you to say no.

This was hard for me a couple of times this week and in fact, I did fail a few times to stay on track.  Like going out to dinner with my running friends on Thursday.  I planned out my entire meal and should have had 58 carbs and 158 calories left with the meal plan I laid out and the food I should have ordered.  Instead, I let a craving change what I had and I ended up at 52 carbs and over in calories by 73.  Now, this is better than where I actually thought I ended up but had I not caved to cravings I would have ended up better.  Stay strong because it only makes it harder to reach your goals when you’re not

1. You’ll know when it’s working.  These days, my judgment of whether or not my process and efforts are working is whether or not I go to bed hungry at the end of the day.  It may sound silly but I feel like my body is trying to be in charge which I know to be true with the reading that I’ve done.  The body fights for fat and calories to stay in its happy place. When you deprive it of where it thinks it should be, which is the arena you are trying to run from including overeating and poor habits, it fights back and tells you to feed it.  Hunger is a hard thing to ignore so you need to get that under control and teach your body to process differently.  When I’m hungry at the end of the day I feel like I’m in charge of deciding what we (my body and I) are going to be eating.  This is why I get so mad at myself when I get home from the gym and start stuffing my face full of fruit and nuts while making the dinner I’d planned.
2. You’re going to have down days.  No one is strong all the time.  Sometimes you can’t or don’t want to work out.  Sometimes you unexpectedly go out to eat or there’s cake at work.  Sometimes these days happen.   It’s ok as long as you get up and get right back on track.  You’re not in prison and fitness / dieting isn’t a punishment it’s a lifestyle that we are choosing to partake in.  Whether it’s a food mishap or deciding to have a rest day, they are going to happen. Embrace it and allow yourself to have it.  We take vacations from work because we need to reset our brains to refresh mind, body & spirit so we can come back and work hard.  Everyone needs a break.  Your body is no different.  It also needs a break from the rigorous routine we put it through from the caloric restrictions we impose on it day in and day out.  In fact, switching up what you’re doing whether it is caloric intake or a workout routine that doesn’t get done or is swapped out for something else is good to keep your body guessing so it works hard.  Everyone writes about switching it up and the benefits therein.  Let yourself have down days outside of your regular rest days.  It’s good for you and your body to switch it up.

There they are, my thoughts for week 10.  On to week 11!