Okay, it may appear that I broke my promise to myself, but I actually have been taking some time for myself daily. I just have not had the chance to get back on here. So...I'm back! I have actually been doing very well on program. My husband has been noticing my weight loss, which prompted me to start trying on some of my smaller clothes and I am actually wearing a smaller outfit today!!! YAY! I am so proud of myself. I feel wonderful!! I have to remember this feeling of elation that I have right now and focus on it whenever I feel the urge to stray.
I am a court reporting student. The semester is winding down so I am in the midst of a two week speed testing period. Talk about stress!! But I have been exercising, which has helped a lot. I was one of those skeptics who would roll my eyes whenever someone told me that instead of eating at stressful moments they would exercise. Well, I'm telling you it is true!!! Go figure! It was not an easy transition to make. Believe me, as I'm sure a lot of us know, it's a lot easier to reach for some comfort food when stressed than to hop on the exercise bike or take a walk, but the feeling afterward is sooooo much better. After grabbing for the munchies I would just feel bad about my choices, tired, angry, and, yes, more stressed. Not so after the exercise. I feel invigorated and the stress is under control. Another feeling I must remember and focus on when I am tempted to stray.
Well, back to work now. I just needed to get back on here. It is good to have a place to record my thoughts once in a while. Also good to have a place to read my past thoughts and get refocused.
Wow! I must have been more "off-program" than I realized. I'm struggling a bit with the cravings and perceived hunger that I did when I first began in September. I remember back then I had to do a lot of self talk, telling myself why I was doing this and that it was worth going through this adjustment period. It turned out I was right. So, I'm trying that again. I KNOW this will pass and it will become so easy that no one would believe it. The trick is to get over this hump.
I have struggled with my weight all my life. I tried many things over the years. I was on the Jenny Craig program about 12-15 years ago. I had lost about 50 pounds, but then life got in the way and I stopped the program, ended up gaining all the weight back and then some, (not that I was ever at goal). I then went on a doctor supervised version of the Adkins diet and lost 130 pounds, still having 50 pounds to go. My life changed and I thought I could re-introduce foods into my diet right away and just hold my own. Well, I held up for a little while but when I decided to go back to school, about 3 years ago, my old habits of stress eating began all over again and 80 of those 130 pounds had come back. I believed my metabolism changed due to the no-carb thing and nothing I tried seemed to work beyond a week. I was very unhappy with myself and knew I had to do something. I am not sure how I came to realize Jenny was the place to be, but I remember that I woke up one morning and announced to my husband that I needed to come back to Jenny. That was the best decision I have made. This time I am learning what I need to about my food choices and portions, and I am determined to see it through to the end. I have to make a lot of behavioral changes and probably deal with some deep seeded issues that I may not even be aware of, but I am ready to be enlightened.
Sorry for being so long-winded, but I wanted to tell my story. I needed to reflect on my struggle and determine that I will move forward from this point on. I'm back on track!
Hello! I've been on Jenny Craig since September 18, 2006. I am hovering around the 30 pound-lost mark. Hovering is exactly what I am doing; losing/gaining the same few pounds, or maintaining. No more. Time to move on. This is the first day of the rest of my journey. Hence, I am using today's date to mark the beginning.
I have a tendency to put myself last; my job, my home life, my school work, then me. I intend to take a moment (or two) from each day for me. My blog time is my time; time to take a look at my goals, my progress, my feelings about what I'm doing and how I'm doing, and have some accountability for my actions. Hopefully I'll find a new strength within me and achive my goals.
I am totally new at blogging, so I hope that visitors will kindly take note of that! I am always opens to tips and suggestions. I'll figure out the rest of this soon. I may even post a picture or two!
