regaining control

Tomorrow makes one month since I have had no refined sugar or dessert of any kind.  It also marks one month that I have exercised 6 days a week.  I am finally getting control over myself again.

When I was in school these past months, it was hard to be disciplined because I was white-knuckling it most of the time.  I grabbed food on the road and was so exhausted I couldn't even think of exercising.  But  I hope those days are behind me.

I am about 13 lbs down and counting.  It feels so good to say no to things I crave.  It feels like I am acting and not being acted upon.  It is empowering, and I like it.  A lot.  I now have two pair of pants that I can put on and off without unzipping or unbuttoning.  WooHoo!

So tomorrow I will wake up at 6:15 again and walk/run around the track.  I will run up and down the bleachers until I feel like I am going to die.  I will eat healthy food.  I will fit into my clothes even better than I did last week.

One thing to learn about me:  I have incredible self-discipline, once I make a plan.  If I do say so myself.

26 comments

Anonymous | August 29, 2010 at 9:28 PM

Wow. Good for you! I need to follow in your footsteps. I've gotten a bit out of control. It's so easy to come up with a million excuses . . .

Welcome to the Garden of Egan | August 29, 2010 at 9:31 PM

YOU. ARE. MY. HERO!!!!!
If you can keep that up during the stress of this past month that you've had you can do ANYTHING!

I'm proud of ya!

grace. | August 29, 2010 at 9:44 PM

holy impressive. i seriously need to start working on this...

Jenny P. | August 29, 2010 at 9:45 PM

You are awesome! I have great discipline when it comes to exercise. Not so much when it comes to food.

Lara Neves | August 29, 2010 at 9:49 PM

Good for you!

I managed my no sugar/desserts until the kids were out of school in June, and it's been downhill since then. I'm looking forward to next week...maybe I can get back into control again!

You're an inspiration!

Kristina P. | August 29, 2010 at 10:03 PM

That is very impressive! Excellent.

Kimberly Vanderhorst | August 29, 2010 at 10:10 PM

Do you have any idea how inspiring you are? Seriously...I needed to read this tonight. Mwah!

charrette | August 29, 2010 at 10:11 PM

Wow. I didn't know you were doing that. I've been doing the same thing. Well, the working out six days a week thing. I go to the gym three days a week and run the other three...I've finally worked my way up to two miles per day.

The sugar thing? well, my record is two months. But right now I'm just eating whatever I want. I keep going back and forth...would I rather be skinny or happy, skinny or happy? Sounds like you've got the answer: BOTH!

Love you!

Kazzy | August 29, 2010 at 10:18 PM

I wouldn't say skinny, but I do feel better than I have in a couple of years. It is nothing heroic. Eat less, sleep and exercise more.

Not eating after dinner has forced me to bed earlier, which is also another good side effect.

val of the south | August 29, 2010 at 10:54 PM

Well done my friend!!!

Connie | August 29, 2010 at 11:06 PM

Very proud of you! You're looking good!

Kim | August 29, 2010 at 11:06 PM

Way to Go! I have been hoping, for the past 2 years, to "regain control." I love it when we feel good about ourselves. Again, Way to Go! You can keep it up!

Enjoy that early morning walk, it feels like it might be a nice cool morning.

Robin | August 29, 2010 at 11:40 PM

I know how much you like to withhold from yourself. I have always admired your self-control.

Good for you.

LisAway | August 30, 2010 at 12:30 AM

I love this! And I love Charrette's comment because that's where I am. Skinny or happy. Unfortunately I'm almost as thin as I want to be (don't care too much about the final 7 lb. that will take me back to my all the way thin days). But NEEDING to eat sweets does NOT make me happy. Although at first NOT eating them makes me UNhappy, but I really appreciate your reminder of how good it feels to say no and be in control! I had forgotten that.

Rachel Cotterill | August 30, 2010 at 4:11 AM

That's really impressive :) I seriously need to start exercising again - but I struggle to make myself get out of bed in the morning to do it!

Jenny | August 30, 2010 at 8:52 AM

OK, I just made my plan to do this! The hardest part was the fact that PTA brought cupcakes for the first day of school. I gave mine to my daughter. The food in the teachers lounge was my down fall last year. You inspire me so much! Thanks.

Barbaloot | August 30, 2010 at 11:45 AM

It would have been nice if I could've read this post when my alarm went off at 6am today and I decided to sleep in instead of exercise.

On the bright side, I haven't had refined sugar since last night:)

Good for you!!

Linde | August 30, 2010 at 2:34 PM

That is great! So proud of you--that is hard to get going...once you are in it the benefits keep you going, but the start up is killer! Yea for you!!

The Way I See It | August 30, 2010 at 4:38 PM

That's AWESOME Karen. I agree that it IS empowering. I made it without the sugar or dessert part for 5 1/2 weeks. I'm sorry that I picked it up again, but am trying to really limit it now to something really worth it, instead of just mindless grabbing. I remember when I was able to slip a pair of pants off without unzipping too. That was such a great feeling. I laughed outloud. Good for you. Looking good, and I bet you're feeling great!

Bossy Betty | August 30, 2010 at 9:39 PM

Yeah! I admire this in a person.

mermaid gallery | August 30, 2010 at 9:56 PM

Now that is inspiring! You are a quite the dynamo....impressive!

Melanie Jacobson | August 30, 2010 at 11:13 PM

You're freaking awesome. Thirteen pounds? Holy cow. Or some other more appropriate expression.

Miss Tinselly | August 31, 2010 at 5:43 AM

So awesome! I am doing this too, except I cut out bread. That is my weakness - pretty much all baked goods. I find it's easier to say no when I've been to the gym all week. I hate to ruin all the good I've done :)

Heidi | August 31, 2010 at 11:57 AM

Wow--very inspiring! My twin sister's son got married last month and she lost 12 pounds for that event. It's worth it, I'd say.

CiCi | August 31, 2010 at 2:14 PM

Running up and down the bleachers is too daunting for an old lady like me. Seriously. I am so proud of you for eliminating the sugar!

Luann | September 8, 2010 at 6:37 AM

Your lost 13 really does show. You look great. It's such a bonus when you feel great too. Way to go!