Choices - What do you choose?

As I mentioned in my epiphany blog recently, I had a great 3 weeks of eating after I really stopped and questioned what I was eating and why I was eating it. I eliminated artificial ingredients and saw results almost immediately - my cravings ceased, my body got noticeably smaller, my clothes got loose and I was amazed when I saw this for the first time in over a year - I was under 150 pounds (just barely, but still, it was exciting!):

However, since that photo was taken, over the next 3 weeks I got a little lazy. I was still eating healthy food and avoiding unnatural ingredients, but not tracking. I knew I was eating too much and just as quickly as I had noticed by body get smaller before, I noticed it get bigger now. I noticed my energy decrease and I noticed my mood change.

After attending this week's meeting, I finally said "That's it!" and jumped on my scale at home. I had put on 7 pounds:

Now, I am only showing those photos to illustrate how quickly and dramatically my weight can fluctuate. I live by what I tell you all the time - it's not all about the scale. It's just one measurement of where you are in your journey, but it does not tell the whole story. I knew the number would be higher than it had been 3 weeks ago, and forcing myself to get on the scale and acknowledge what it reads (I rarely ever look at my weigh in book @ WW) helps me tell myself "It's ok, it's over". It's like a way to reset my brain and move on. It's my clean slate. I never let that number upset me. I do not feel guilty or angry about what the scale displays, or the last 3 weeks. It's honestly not a big deal. I was simply facing it because I was ready to move on.

And move on I did-

It was Monday night that I finally said "What am I doing? Why am I eating this way? Why am I not taking care of myself?". I acknowledged my sloppiness over the last 3 weeks and how it had been affecting my mood (I had begun feeling anti social, un-awesome, and a little grumpy, which was like the 'old' me. Coincidence? I think not. I have noticed that when my eating becomes unstructured and lazy, my mood suffers too.) and I decided then and there, that was it. I was ending the free form sloppy eating. I was back on track.

I chose to end that cycle before it got out of control, and before I slip back into former self-destructive habits, or former foods, that I've put behind me. On that day, I reminded myself that everything in life is a choice. Every item I consume, every activity I complete, every smile and kind gesture I extend, everything I do and say - everything - is a choice.

And I chose to embrace positivity and the right way of eating again. On that day-

• I chose to start tracking again.
• I chose to weigh and measure my food.
• I chose to be accountable for my actions.
• I chose to be honest with myself.
• I chose to walk the 80 flights of stairs at work again.
• I chose to smile more, be in a good mood and have a great day.

All of those things happened on Tuesday because I decided they were going to happen. I chose to do them, and I did them. And as you might suspect, it felt great and was the perfect jump start I needed again! It's day 3 now and I've been in a delightful mood (despite stress @ work all week, nearly non stop rain and gloom in NYC, and attending jury duty today) and I'm back to feeling awesome! It doesn't take long to feel the fantastic effects either, it really happens that quickly.

Along those lines, I absolutely love this commercial. I think it sums up my point nicely. In 30 seconds, it perfectly illustrates the cycle of bad choices we can make daily, but how you can turn that all around by putting your foot down and taking the time to make one good choice - and then see that snowball into a cycle of good choices.



That's why I like to remind you constantly that you can start or restart at *any* time. Forget the not-so-great meal/event/holiday/week/month/year you had. Forget it. It's in the past. You can't change the past, but you *can* change your future. You can change the choices you are *going* to make. So why not do that?

What do you want? What will you choose to help you get there? It's all within your control.