I was so gung ho and have backslid to apathy and shoveling it in.

[bertha katzenengel]

Re: diet & exercise.

Advice?

[Tuesday Afternoon]

1. remove shovel from mouth. Return it to the garage. Lock the garage.

Leave the kitchen. Pet a kitty. continue petting kitties until all is better. The end.

[bertha katzenengel]

2. Good advice. And I can't eat a kitteh.

:bounce:

[Tuesday Afternoon]

3. cool --

:hug:

Kitties fix everything :bounce:

[LeftyFingerPop]

4. A backslide will not hurt you.

Just because you slip up once, your long term goal is not impeded.

Get it out of your system, eat what you want, and then get back on the wagon.

I tend to think that occasional slip-ups are good, because they jump start your metabolism.

[Droopy]

5. That's the spirit

And it works for other addictive behavior as well. I quit smoking in April, but I slipped up a month later, bought a pack of cigarettes and smoked five of them in a row. Then I called a relative and told her what I had done. She said, "No problem. Just throw the smokes away. It's just a little slip up." I've been a non-smoker ever since.

[LeftyFingerPop]

6. Congratulations Droopy...

I'm proud of you.

It is so hard to quit...you have shown great resolve and you have done a great thing for yourself.

Very well done. :)

[Droopy]

7. Thank you

I've been wanting to quit for a long time. It's like a dream come true.

[bertha katzenengel]

11. Droopy, that is fantastic news! You are proud of yourself, yes? I hope so!

:hug: You are my pal. :pals:

[jane_pippin]

8. I know what you mean. I was doing really well, but then got lazy once

I actually saw some results. "ooh, look! I did it! I don't have to pay close attention now" and then gained back a bit of what I lost because "I didn't have to pay attention" and ate without thinking, didn't stick to the exercise, etc. Don't beat yourself up over it. When you notice yourself going back to old habits, take a moment to recognize it and try make a different choice-- and take it one day at a time, as cliche as that sounds. I know it can be hard, but go for a walk with a friend, or make a healthy meal that you really enjoy. Don't freak out and make diet/exercise the be-all and end-all of your day/week/month, and try not to get upset if you're not "perfect" about diet/exercise. If you backslid, it's ok. It happens. Take a moment to recognize it and say "ok, I did that, I'm human. But I don't have to keep doing it." And do things you like to do--read a good book, have a tasty, healthy snack handy if you like to eat and read, as I do, or watch a movie, or whatever it is that floats your boat, and do what you can.

And the apathy--I know--it's hard to overcome it, but again, cliche/pollyanna of me to say I know, but you have to keep your goal in mind--whether it's "I want to lose x amount of weight" or "I want to eat only food that's good for me today" or "I want to go for a walk around the block" or "I'll drink water instead of coke with lunch"-- whatever it is. Even though it might not seem like much in the moment, even doing something small can help kickstart you back into your routine.

:hug:

[supernova]

9. Yep, just keep going

Have your "forbidden" food, whatever that is, get it out of your system, then get back to your routine. It's not an all or nothing situation at all.

That's what I've done this time and it seems to be working. I'm happen to be a chocoholic (of course!) and a pie addict. I can't resist a good pie! :9 So, I have them, sometimes.

But I've been seriously exercising since mid July and have done pretty well. I've dropped about 7 lbs so far. I have a long way to go, but I might have finally be caring for my body in the right way. I actually look forward to discharging all my stress during my workouts. It's a great relief. There's no reason you can't too, Bertha. :hug:

[tigereye]

10. a little bit at a time? and regularly.

I find that if I walk every day and do my tai chi and maybe some walks on the weekends, I do much better.


In the summer I swim when I can. That seems to keep some of the middle-aged pounds at bay.


:hi:

[bertha katzenengel]

12. regularly.

Mrs. V. was sick last week and I used that as my excuse not to go to the gym. She is the one who drags us. She doesn't have to drag, though; she drags ME. So I had an excuse, however invalid.

I have to find a way to go by myself when she can't. Regularly.

:hi:

[blueraven95]

13. no advice, just cheerleading

you can do it! ra! ra! ra!