I can make it under 260, though, which puts me a few good weeks away from 240. This is the time for outright discipline. That isn’t exactly a recent revelation, but it is something I need to enact in my daily life. I think I took some steps toward that discipline last week, despite avoiding the gym entirely.
First, I beat cake. Yep, there was birthday cake at work on Thursday, and a coworker was trying her hardest to get me to enjoy some. Around 8 p.m., she actually brought plates of cake into our newsroom and gave some to everyone. I swore at her and told her to get out (in a nice, joking way I should add), but there was cake to be had, and I didn’t have it.
So that’s a little victory.
My thought process also matured a little bit last week. In my mind were visions of 240, but they were balanced by the current reality of 265. I had to connect the two somehow, right?
I tried to figure a way to get to the gym six times a week. The answer: start getting up at 10 a.m. instead of 11 a.m. Go to the gym for an hour and then come home and go about my daily routine. That’s important, because I am big on routines. I don’t like to have them disrupted if I can help it.
I’m also starting to take the current menu for granted. I wasn’t looking forward to off days nearly as much last week. As we sit now, I am not particularly sure when I’ll feel the need for an off day again. I’m sure it will happen, but honestly, I just don’t get the gratification I expect.
I think I order pizza because pizza sounds good to me. I have a good image of pizza in my head, but most of the time, the pizza doesn’t live up to that image. It’s the same thing with most fast food (In-N-Out Burger excluded). I’ve got good memories of the double Whopper, or sitting down to five McDonald’s double cheeseburgers. So I turn to them when I want instant gratification, but they are never really worth the consequences.
When an off-day meal doesn’t live up to the hype I’ve previously assigned it, I feel guilty and frustrated, and hungry for more. I’d say that happens about 70 percent of the time.
Thing is, when I have an off day meal that is truly delicious, I don’t feel guilty at all. I feel a little bit of pride for making that meal count. I can think of maybe four times over the last three months when an off day meal has truly been worth it.
Article comments
1 - Alexandria
Hello again. I'm finally getting your pattern down. When all else fails, you'll check in after a weekend...so I did too.
You beat the cake! Awesome. It is a victory! Don't you hate well-meaning people pushing junk food at you? I like to respond, "No thanks, but would you like some heroin?" Food is just that addictive to me and can start an ugly, unplanned "off day."
By the way, I totally understand how you feel about most fast foods now. I went 8 years with no french fries. When I tried them again they tasted greasy, salty and fatty. Now, I won't even touch a pizza unless it's my favorite combination from my favorite food place. Otherwise, I feel like I screwed up for nothing!
Yep, I'm a psychologist (which probably makes that heroin sentences above sound even more weird). You will likely want to see one of my kind rather than a psychiatrist when you start your "Dan Nied's Path to Self Acceptance and Mental Stability." Traditionally, insurance only pays for a 15 minute med check with a psychiatrist but will pay for a therapist for the full hour. For a set number of sessions. (I won't get started on our ridiculous mental health care crisis in this country). But, with or without a therpaist, I cannot wait to read that blog!
Will you review the Biggest Loser meal plans for Blogcritics? I almost requested to review it but then decided I was too lazy and my children too picky to give it a whirl. But I'm still interested.
Oh, and you didn't reply about channeling your energy and determination toward work. I'm just curious....
Have a great week! I'm rooting for a solid 262 soon!
~(Insert Tricky Pseudonym Here)