6 weeks in...

I have not posted anything here previously because I wanted to see how it all would work. After 6 weeks, I find the routine of tracking my eating habits, the discipline and accountability of it, has become my habit. Nothing new there, every weight management book/website says this, but I have learned this to be true. Sometimes I have to learn the lesson myself and struggle to learn from the lesson of others. I have well over 100 pounds to lose, and the very hardest part for me is thinking how long it will take to hit my final goal. The only thought that overcomes this for me, is that the same amount of time will pass, and do I wish to be obese or healthy? I must ask that question of myself, multiple times a week.

Two reminders help me stay focused. The first is posted on the fridge, "Don't give up what you want most, for what you want now." It helps. It keeps the healthy life style that I most want in my mind regularly, particular when I want to 'bored' eat. Bored eating became a habit, and one that felt (feels) difficult to break.

The other reminder is 'Don't give up, the beginning is always the hardest." And I realized that every day is the beginning. Every day starts off fresh, with choices to be made, the healthy ones or allowing the habits of years to dictate those choices.

I am working with the Zone after lots of reading. I like that it moves away from processed foods and focuses on the outside aisles of the store (Produce, meat/fish, dairy). It does not feel like a fad diet, but a way of eating for life. Most of the criticism of the Zone diet that I found is from people trying to sell other plans.

The first week in, I was so busy figuring out blocks and planning meals that I am not sure I had time to be hungry. I found myself having more energy, and rarely was hungry. If I was hungry, it usually was because my meal did not stay true to the 40-30-30 percentages that the Zone focuses on. It was hard not to be perfect at it. There is trial and error and after so many years of not listening to my body, it is taking time to remember the language that it speaks.

So that is a lot of me babbling, but here are the results. 6 weeks in, I have lost 18 pounds. It is a bit faster than I expected intellectually. Emotionally, I want it all off now. Of course I know that is not realistic. It took me years to put on the weight, so I am working on being patient. Taking each new day as the beginning, with the chance to make healthy choices.

My next step is to incorporate daily exercise into my life.