Getting Through Thanksgiving Weekend

11/27/09
The day after Thanksgiving. It's been two days of not counting calories and I'm sure well over the daily budget of 1800 calories. But I did the treadmill both days for 45 minutes and 3+ miles. I showed a little restraint yesterday until it was time for desert and then had two pieces of pie with loads of whip cream. This morning we had the sausage egg casserole and buttermilk biscuits. I had 3-4 biscuits. A couple of vodka and diet 7's in the afternoon, and then for dinner a big burger, fries and two more pieces of pie and whip cream for desert. So tomorrow, its back to counting and a reasonable diet. I guess I failed the holiday test where food is concerned, but passed for exercise. Then again, it was a tough week to start something like this and I think I've come through it reasonably well. As always, what important is what comes next.

I've been thinking about my goals and motivation for this change in lifestyle. I more interested in measurements than in weight, but I'm not sure what my goal should be for waist size and that is the only one I would even have a clue what I am now or what I would like to be. Now I'm probably close to a 42 inch waist and somewhere between 40"-42". I'd like to be at a 34", but no more than 36". I want to be able to wear size large shirts comfortably.

I think the idea is that I don't have a specific weight as a goal, but I use weight to periodically measure my progress. I'll know if I'm balancing food and exercise close to what I should be. Also, regarding the goal of 98% of the days following the plan, maybe that isn't such a bad idea after all. Maybe I should allow myself the big holidays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and maybe Independence Day without worrying about watching what I eat, and all the rest are where I am mindful. In a year, that is 7 days of free for all and 358 of planned eating. As for the exercise, there isn't any reason that shouldn't be on every day except where I'm too sick to get out of bed. And those should be fewer when I'm treating my body better.

I'm a little sore and tired from the treadmill. It was probably harder today then the other two days, mostly because I'd had the huge breakfast first and that was definitely a challenge. It was harder to breath in part because of that, I think, though I was also keeping up a faster pace than I had before. This afternoon, after doing a little with Christmas decorations, I was just beat and sat down with Cammy to watch some Sponge Bob and took a cat nap or two in the chair with her sitting in my lap. It was nice time together.

I'm not particularly looking forward to the weigh in Monday morning, but I'm not stressing about it either. If I didn't gain any weight during the Thanksgiving week, then that is a victory. And if I did, I still know that it is less than it would have been had I maintained the path I was on of eating badly and not exercising.