JUST FOR TODAY -- One Day at a Time .... Daily commitment thread for 2019

Todays topic: A reality Check
Todays topic was about how we think, determines what you feel, which determines what you do.

This was such an important topic for me. Between Halloween and Christmas, almost every year, I gain weight. Part of my weight gain is how I feel. I am always so depressed that time of year ... missing all the loved ones I have lost. And then my thinking changes, where I just don't care, when in reality, I do care. But when I am down, I don't care. And that is what led me to my gains. This year I was also feeling defeated in going to the gym. I go to the gym 4-5x a week, and when I wasn't seeing any results, I began to even think that was not doing any good (especially after hubby (so nicely!!) put it that the gym was not helping me

So how we think definitely makes a huge difference. So how to change all this?

1. ID any unhelpful thoughts. You have to recognize that what you are thinking is not helpful.
2. Do a reality check on that thought. Look at the facts. (For me, the facts were that even though I was not losing weight, going to the gym was helping me. I could have easily gained 20 pounds instead of the 12 pounds.
3. develop a new, helpful thought. That would be telling myself that even though the scale did not show my hard work, the gym was helping me to relieve the stress I always feel during the holidays, it was helping me to stay toned and strong, etc. So to look at the positives of at least "trying" to stay as healthy as I can.

Today I was down another 2.4 pounds ... so I have lost 7.6 pound in the first month. I feel like I am gaining control over my eating. Like yesterday, I was in Walmart, and super hungry. In the past, as I am checking out, I would grab a small bag of their chips, or a candy bar. Yesterday, I grabbed a container of cut up cantalope. Not only did it take longer to eat, lower in calories, and I felt better.

And ... I am finally out of the 200s! Back at 198.0. The part of me that has in the past had unhelpful thinking... thinks that gee, I was at 194 in January, so how is this a win for me. The part of me that has to change my thinking is saying that I am down 7.6 pounds, and not to look at the past. Not to look at a year ago when I was at 188, but to look at where I am now. I am making healthy, positive changes.

Our grandsons are coming in tonite... so I know it will be harder. The 10 yr old wants to celebrate his birthday ... so I have a Dairy Queen cake in the freezer. I am planning a easter egg hunt/scanvenger hunt... so I have easter candy in the house already. But ... I have to learn that IF I eat a piece of ice cream cake to have a small piece .... and not beat myself up. (BUt, I plan on making sure all this stuff is gone before they leave on Monday!). So I may not be on here as much, but thinking of all you guys .... and hope you all have a great weekend!

Remember, How we think affects how we feel, which affects the decisons we make.