EYE OF THE TIGER

The last few days have been good.  REALLY GOOD.  My new boss at work isn't a troll or an ogre, I've watched a TON of Olympic events on TV (Go Team USA!!) and screamed until my lungs burned and my throat was hoarse, AND I have done really well on my health journey.  I have the Eye of the Tiger!! OH YEAH.

I have tracked my points and easily stayed within or below my calorie target every day this week (starting on Monday).  I have exercised each of the last five days - even though my body is pretty much at war with me and is very hostile toward my efforts.

It feels GREAT.

OH HOW I WISH I COULD RECORD THIS FEELING AND PLAY IT BACK WHEN TIMES ARE TOUGH SO I COULD BE REMINDED OF HOW WORTH IT IT ALL IS.

My body is starting to crave the right foods again, instead of all the wrong ones.  Water tastes so dang refreshing, and my Coke cravings are nearly gone.

{{SIGH OF RELIEF}}

I am thrilled to be back on track.  I am ecstatic to be once again focused on and working toward what I consider to be one of the most important goals of my life.

It feels FANTASTIC.

I have also realized that there are a few things I need to avoid like the plague if I truly want to stay on track:

CHIPS - Look, I try to tell myself I can eat the right portion, but I can't.  I CANNOT.  I will continue to eat, and eat, and eat until before I know it, I have consumed the entire bag.  They cannot be in my house.  THEY CANNOT.

COCA COLA- I cannot touch the stuff.  EVER.  If I do, I am immediately spiraled into bad habits - it is my Kryptonite.

EATING OUT - Although one day I hope to be able to learn to be moderate when eating out, right now I just have to admit it isn't possible.  Even if I make good choices the first time out, what happens is I start to go back over and over and over.  And on the subsequent visits, I do not choose wisely.

In addition to those things I have realized I must avoid, I have also found AND remembered things that really do help me stay on track and stay focused:

TRACKING:  Yes, it is a pain, and no, I don't like to do it...but it really is necessary.  It is like balancing a checkbook, if you never do it, you will most definitely overspend.  If I don't track, I will definitely overeat.

FRUIT:  Having fruit readily available is an absolute must for me.  I am so much more satisfied if I finish off a meal with a piece of fruit. AND, a piece of fruit as part of a snack...well, fuggedaboutit.  Today I was so desperate for fruit that I went to a local produce stand AND Walmart during my lunch period so I could have some at the office with my lunch and snack (I had run out of fruit and was seriously crazed that I wasn't going to be satisfied and would go on a binge).

A KICK A** TASTING LIGHT MEAL - There is seriously nothing so gratifying to me as having a fantastic meal, that is on program.  I walk away thinking - WHY DO I EVER EAT OUT OR OFF PROGRAM.  This tastes so good!  Tonight we had Angus Burgers.  Now, at first I was like, this may be too much, but it wasn't.  I had the burger, sans cheese, with light mayo, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion and a toasted fresh baked bun.  SERIOUSLY, IT WAS AMAZING.   On the side I had fresh picked grilled sweet corn with a pat of butter, salt and pepper on it.  OH, HEAVEN.

QUAKER QUAKES - I have no idea how I didn't know about these things before.  They are divine!  They are a satisfying and filling snack and I love them! The chocolate, sweet chili, and sea salt and black pepper are my faves.

I am feeling so good about it is hard to imagine I could ever fall back down...but, as we all know, I certainly can...so I'm trying to remember that and not take my current few days of success for granted!

I'm also singing, RISIN' UP, BACK ON THE STREET....EYE OF THE TIGER!!!
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I want to start doing a daily "accountability" on this blog.  So, here are my 'STATS' today:

NUTRITION:  Fully tracked and on target to be right at or slightly below my daily goal.
BREAKFAST:  Skipped - not on purpose, I was just so busy!!
LUNCH:  Healthy Choice Italian Sausage Pasta Bake, Salad with croutons and 2T. light ranch, 1 pink lady apple (YUM)
SNACKS:  Clif Bar - White Chocolate Macadamia (meant for breakfast); Medium Pina Colada Slurpee (OK, this isn't the most nutritional snack, I get that, but I have to have a little something every once in a while.  It did only have 175 calories!!)
DINNER:  Fantastic Hamburger dinner described above!!
WORKOUT:  Today is my rest day. Thank goodness.  I really needed a break.