Wanna work out?

This week was a bit different for me. The weight loss challenge ended, and I always go a little nutso, especially since I've been on a diet of some sort for the last three months straight. Starting last Thursday I ate pizza, and then moved into nachos, french fries, wings, and beer on Friday while seeing Loni Love's show in Schaumburg. On Saturday it was all about saganaki (fried greek cheese), prime rib dinner, more nachos, calamari, and a malt. Sunday I managed to restrain myself (yeah right) and ate Cheez Its, M&Ms, taco bell (although there was no sour cream so I made like a baby and threw my taco down and refused to eat it), and a french dip sandwich with french fries. So, just eyeballing those calories, it seemed like I should have had a BIG gain. But, alas, getting back onto the horse first thing Monday prevented that, and thanks to Nutrisystem, I didn't have a gain. I've been putting in some great workouts this week, and while Easter is on Sunday, I don't plan on going too nutso because I have to weigh myself on Monday. Zoinks!

I much prefer routine; if I have a few days off from work I always get a little anxious because I know I won't get my 80 oz of water in, probably won't eat all of my fruits and veggies for the day, and that makes me nervous. The routine I get in during the week is my savior-if it weren't work my job I think I would be well over 200 pounds. Not. Cool. The routine of working out twice after work is also helping me-at 4:30 my friend Kathy and I go to the Deuce to use their gym. After that, I go home and do a Biggest Loser workout video with my aunt. I'm burning probably close to 600 calories or more (I have no idea how many the workout videos are burning), and I feel accomplished and wonderful by the time I'm off to hit the sheets. The next morning I may not always feel so wonderful...these old bones are aching something fierce these last two days. Well, not so much my bones, but my glutus maximus.

So many things have turned into motivation for me lately-the weather (finally) turning nicer, the thought of going to Mexico in seven weeks, a babies laughter, the kittens soft fur..it all adds up to me wanting to do this, for me and me alone, and actually following it through. You see-I've followed it through before and have loved the results. But, then life gets in the way, old habits reform, and then I don't care so much about myself anymore. I'm learning about these cycles I create in my life, and I'm also learning triggers and how to stop them. I much prefer hummus to spinach artichoke dip (is what I'm telling myself), and I prefer a vegetable wrap to a burger (let's see if I can get that one to stick....). I just have to realize that I am not like everyone else-I am me, and I have my own challenges and issues that are unique to me, and if I own them, I can have a happy life. I have many reasons to be extremely grateful, which I am, but this is the one challenge that keeps alluding me, and I would like to win it once and for all. If I never lost another pound, would I be happy with myself for the rest of my life? Probably at times I would; like anyone else I have good days and I have bad days. But, I have the power to change that, and instead of complaining about it, I'm actually doing something about it, which feels great.

All right, it's Good Friday, I'm rambling, and need to get some work done. Eat and be merry this weekend, folks :)