September Struggles and Successes

I started out the month of September full of hope and with an intention to knock off a couple of pounds of excess weight that I gained over the Spring and Summer months… I was feeling a bit soft around the middle, had lost some of the muscle in my arms and shoulders and was feeling quite down on myself in general.

I had a food plan, an exercise plan and thought I was on the right track to have a great RE-start in September.  But I didn’t make any headway at all… oh yes, I kept working out like a fiend, but I was not at all committed to my healthy food plan and was basically sabotaging all of my own efforts.

I joined a couple of Facbook exercise/nutrition challenge groups and did the daily postings and pics but never really got into it.  I wasn’t feeling motivated at all.  I wasn't getting any inspiration from these groups.

I knew that I had to make some changes but couldn’t seem to get over the mental hurdle of just doing it.  I made excuses.  I procrastinated. I pretended. I avoided.

Then I had an epiphany of sorts… which I wrote about here.  I made an about face… I gained a new mindset… And now I have a positive energy which has me travelling in the right direction.  I quit focussing on what I want the outcome to be, and am actually enjoying the process of looking after myself.

So what were the problems and what changes have I made?

I was grazing my way through the day and evening.  I was eating good and healthy meals but snacking on nuts and dried fruit intermittently.

• I have put away all the tempting little nibbles so that I cannot mindlessly and easily grab a handful of nuts, or raisins as I pass through the kitchen.  They are now in measured portions and in an out of the way cupboard.

I was just winging it with my food plan... I had quit  menu planning pretty much altogether. I have always known that I operate much better with a written plan and I was just being lazy about doing it.

• Every morning I make a food plan/menu for the day including my meals and my snacks.  At the end of the day, I look it over and note my deviations and think about why they occurred.

I was keeping junky snack foods in the cupboard, lying to myself that they were for The Captain.  Hah!

• I am keeping healthy and whole foods in the fridge and in the cupboards. I am surrounding myself with opportunities to make good-for-me choices.  

I was in the habit of having a glass or 2 of wine before dinner several times a week.  

• I have changed my pre-dinner routine so that I am going outside for a walk instead of sitting down with a drink.

All in all, I have developed some new routines. I have cleaned up my spaces. I have ditched the dieting mindset. I am looking after ME.

I am doing well. I am feeling better. I am seeing progress in the mirror and on the scale too… look out OCTOBER.

Do you ever sabotage your own efforts?  How do you motivate yourself to make changes?