Moving Forward...

So I heard this statistic that said by January 15th, most people have given up on their New Year's resolutions.

Like when I resolved to write every day... *sigh*

But what about you?  Have you given up?

I didn't make any official "resolutions" this year (except writing).  I made "goals"- which is pretty much exactly the same thing, but easier to spell- and I'm convinced that it makes you feel better when you don't reach your goals, than when you break your resolutions.

Resolutions seem so... permanent- like wedding vows.  "I, Christi Muhle, do hereby resolve to..."  It sounds less committed when I say, "I'm setting a goal to..."   Not that I have commitment issues...

But, alas.  Potato, poh-tah-toe.

So, have you?  Have you given up?

Do you want me to be honest?  I haven't given up, but I definitely haven't made any progress since last week.  I thought for sure that completing that competition last Monday would somehow make me a different person.  I thought for certain that I would just continue making progress and losing weight...  after I allowed myself a couple of "treats" for the progress I made (I'm convinced it was either that, or a subconscious effort to punish myself for not winning.  But seeing as how I'm an optimist and trying to keep this light-hearted, we'll go with option A.)

So here's what I learned:

1.  Consuming sugar after a sugar fast is not highly intelligent.  But if you must try this, then you might discover that you don't actually enjoy it like you once did (HALLELUJAH)!  But perhaps you are less-than-intelligent and continue to try to "treat" yourself with sugar for a couple of days, you WILL get a food hangover...  for a week.  And you will feel like poop.  End of story.

2.  Oddly enough, in spite of the food hangover, I am still craving fruits and veggies and lean protein.  But I will say- I didn't crave ANY sugar for most of the competition, and sadly, I have found that since my little vacation from healthy eating, I'm starting to experience a little bit of the "old me".

Es no bueno.

It's not like I ate total junk last week, but I'm used to rewarding myself with food and unfortunately, some habits die hard.  So I went to look for a "reward" only to discover that we didn't really have any celebratory foods in the house (thankfully).  So I did what any of us "addicts" would do and I went out to the freezer in the garage. It was there that I discovered...  fundraiser cookies.  I have no idea why I even opened the box.  I mean- they've been in the freezer for three months.  Gag.  I know.

And I've been eating dominantly fresh foods for much longer than that, so why would I even think that putting  them (with all of the preservatives, sugar, crap) in to my body wouldn't have some sort of repercussions? I guess I wasn't thinking. I mean, surely I would just see a gain on the scale and that would be it. Right?

Wrong.

There was no gain.  No loss, either.  Instead, I have been moody, unable to focus, tired, and had a headache (occasionally migraine strength) off and on for the past six days.  I think I'd prefer a ten-pound gain to this past week.

Seriously.

Lesson learned.

So why did I share that?  I told you- you aren't alone, and I totally don't have it all down.  I'm still learning.

So maybe you've given up on your goals, or broken your resolutions.  Maybe you feel like a failure, or like you'll just have to wait until next year.  Or perhaps you feel like you'll never reach those goals, so what's the point?

The point is, I'm 33, and I'm just now getting it.

You fall off the horse, you get back on- that's the only way to get where you're going.  And if you're worried that you'll fall again, or that you'll hurt the horse, then just start walking.  Either way, don't give up.  Get off your laurels and pick right back up where you left off.

I'll do it with you.  Clean slate.  Right now.  Today.

No more official "resolutions" for the year 2013.

Instead, commit to move forward, making progress... one day at a time.

I'm in this with you.

Thanks for sticking with me!

The Fat Girl, Slim