That was a Bad Decision!

This week I was reminded of bad decisions. We all make them, sometimes. And, for the most part, we also recognize that they are likely bad decisions. Still, we do them.

I encourage you to identify a bad decision and then chose more wisely. Ask yourself what the true benefits are to the bad choice over the one you know is better for you.

Here are some bad choices:

1. Choosing to get a new puppy when you have a baby (thinking they’ll grow up together and it will be beautiful)

2. Choosing to have someone in your life that is detrimental to your health (physical, mental and emotional)

3. Choosing to open your body or mind to addiction (usually people do this for the short-term benefits)

4. Choosing to let one comment or one experience ruin your day (this can be expanded to week, month and year/s)

5. Choosing to deny yourself joy because you don’t think you deserve it

6. Choosing to let your anger get the best of you by acting out or drowning in a substance rather than accept conflict and work through it openly, honestly, carefully and without further offense to anyone

7. Choosing things that are beyond your means (because you deserve them)

…. The list goes on but I’ll let you create your own.

Today is the day to rid yourself of bad choices. It’s like food choices- you get a lot of chances to practice. If you make a mistake, don’t beat yourself up. Just, strive to better with the next opportunity.

174 and 3% body fat down

So, the scale isn't playing as nicely as I'd like. :) I'm only down a few pounds. Not the 10 my body is telling me I've shed from all of the exercise I've been doing. :) I say that with a joking smile.

It continues to be a really enjoyable journey, no matter what the scale says. The great news is that my body fat is decreasing. I have a scale that tells me how much I have- along with other measurements. I've dropped my body fat into an acceptable range according to body fat charts. Great!

I've adopted a new diet and am really enjoying it. I have a lot to learn to maintain healthy eating habits- and incorporate the variety the body calls for. When I was a vegetarian years ago I did it all wrong. Can anyone say pizza? Vegetarians can be fat too you know. But this time I am incorporating foods I've not experimented with before. I'm staying away from dairy (for the most part) which was often my fattest intake of the week. I really love cheese. :) Now, I eat vegetarian out (with only two slips in the last two weeks) and vegan when I cook at home. I feel great about that.

This morning, as I came back from the gym, (Yes, I got up at my usual 6 AM and hit the gym right away), I passed McDonald's. The drive through was packed! I felt great knowing I wasn't in that line! One of those meals would have erased my gym work for a few days! I recall the days of working mostly out of my car, as a mobile therapist and again as a researcher, when multiple daily meals came from fast food! Yikes. Those days are long gone!

I am very proud of my gym routine- the fact that I make it a priority every day. In fact, its about making ME a priority every day. That feels great. I was in DC for 4 full days and two of them we made it to the gym! Two out of four isn't bad. Four out of four would have been better but I won't beat myself up. It was a mini-vacation.

My exercise physiologist has given me a new program after modifying the last one to my and my gyms needs. I started that this morning. I work hard when I'm at the gym. Can I work a little harder, yes.

So, in a nutshell, the past 3 weeks have been full of proud moments and a few small failures. I think I have to work ten times harder to reduce my portions. I haven't paid enough attention to this. I really love food! But, I know what I have to do.

Oh, and breakfast.... while that line at McDonald's was busy with morning commuters... I have come to enjoy a 1/2 grapefruit broiled with honey on top for my breakfasts! Today, I switched up for a little variety... bran cereal with almond milk (non dairy).

I know so many of you are monitoring this blog to cheer me on and to find your own inspirations- welcome and enjoy! I hope you are enjoying it as much as I am. It feels good to reclaim yourself!