8 inches lost so far

I took measurements today. I should've done it yesterday but I forgot. I've been keeping track since late last October. And my results are not astounding but they have improved for the better. Over the past 3 months I have lost a total of 8 inches head to toe. I told my husband this and he says, "But you don't look any shorter." ha ha

I have been trying really hard most of the time. With a few exceptions in there where I "fell of the wagon" or had a cheat day that lasted two weeks. Just think where my progress would be if I hadn't lost it during those moments of weakness!

Exercise is always consistent now days. It's a part of my life. It's as routine as getting dressed in the morning. And I like to do it. I like the feeling of being in the one room in the house that's just for me, doing my thing, listening to my music, improving my fitness.

But as I said, I've been working especially hard since last fall because I've got a goal date coming up June 1st and I plan on meeting it! There has been a LOT of frustration along the way. Especially when I know that if I'm doing EVERYTHING RIGHT, I should technically be able to drop a pound of fat per week. And when that doesn't happen, after all the hard work, I get down. But there is always a reason WHY. And time after time, it's because of diet. I eat too many calories for fat loss.

I stumbled on an interesting web site today. One of the topics was food cravings and how to stop eating so much junk. The author really called it like he saw it. Basically he said stop whining. Stop complaining about how fat you are as you sit there eating a bag of chips. You CAN do something about it. It's sacrifice. It's hard. But if you are mentally strong, you can do it. I'm paraphrasing here, but that is basically what he was saying.

He also went on to say that he doesn't believe in cheat days (oh, man!). Eating naughty food even in moderation is a no-no. Because you are keeping that craving alive. If you eliminate the junk altogether, you eliminate the craving. It was harsh, but it really DID make sense to me. Maybe my cheat days and my "moderation" is just enough to keep me from where I want to be. And do I really want to workout THIS hard, just to maintain what I've got?? NO WAY! I'm in it for the long haul! I want improvement....and I want it BAD. More than I want those fries and chocolate cake. Even more than wine! (I'm scared)

In conclusion, he claims he NEVER cheats and maintains strong willpower even when everyone around him is eating junk all day long. He says he's THAT mentally strong. Wow, where do I learn how to do that?

So I got to thinking in the shower this morning after reading this; do I really want this? Am I willing to give up having s'mores with my kids by the campfire, or baking cupcakes and other treats to eat while we have a picnic on the living room floor, or having wine and fondue family nights? My entire life? Is looking good at the beach, the 3 days a year that I'm actually there worth giving up all that happiness? I think that is the question we all have to ask. How much is it worth? How much am I willing to sacrifice? Is the 2 minutes it takes me to inhale a cupcake worth blowing that half an hour on the treadmill this morning? For me, it's not.

Maybe some people think that is sad. And some people probably snicker about my ways behind my back. But that's ok. Because I probably snicker about their ways too. And I can still enjoy family time with my kids. We craft together and we still have picnics and movie nights, we just make healthier treats. I am proud to be a mom that is setting a good example for my children, so they will hopefully grow up making smarter choices for their own health.