Hubs asked me for my Christmas list the other day. I told him that I wanted a few things to pamper myself with — like a new perfume, bath salts by pure fiji, and a nice loofah sponge.
I think it’s easy to forget about pampering yourself and taking care of yourself when life happens. While it is easy to forget — I think it is important to remember to take care of yourself and appreciate yourself! 
Hello fellow health and wellness questers!
I am sorry that I haven’t written in awhile. I have been enjoying the GORGEOUS weather we have been having!
Last year around this time, I think I was complaining about not enjoying the weather as much as I should have. Simply put, I missed my gym membership and didn’t see how fresh air, sunshine and nature’s workout could compare to the mechanical awesomeness that was the elliptical machine. After all, how did we ever maintain health before gym memberships?
I think I even wrote a post about why people “gain” weight during the summer. Though I now see that as a failed attempt of justifying my slide backwards.
I am telling you folks, this year is a whole different ball game for me! I am giving myself opportunities to create my own “gym” if you will. I call it “nature’s gym”. I walk, ride my bike, swim at the lake, and have committed to yard work (it’s inevitable — yard work that is — but it does take commitment to have a nice yard). Where there is want – there is a way. Right?
Today, my family and I spent 5 hours at the beach. We all swam in the lake, played at the park and took advantage of our surroundings. It was a great day! I am happy, slightly sunburned and tired. The kind of tired that you get from having a full and active day!
I have begun to recognize that I am the leader in my family. I am the key person that decides how our lives will operate. I am the one who sets wheels in motion — like getting healthy, getting educated, etc. Before this year, I don’t think I fully recognized this within me. I am the key man life insurance policy of this family for sure! As a result, we will continue not to just *survive* but to thrive as a family and as individuals.
I like deep-conversation, deep thoughts and inspirational nuggets of knowledge. I enjoy waking up each day with the realization that the new day means new possibilities for success and for change.
I came across this quote today:
One definition of insanity is: Doing the same thing again and again and expecting a different result.
How true and wise is this quote?
It took me awhile to figure out that just waking up and enjoying the fact that it is a new day and the *possibility* of success (especially in the weight loss realm since that is my primary focus at the moment) is not enough. Think about it. The knowledge that you *could* do something is far different than actually doing something. As huge as that realization is — the reality is that even the small steps count toward doing something different with the expectation of success. In terms of weight loss this literally could mean something as simple as swapping out your normal daily bowl of sugary cereal in the morning for a banana and a piece of whole wheat toast. However, if you just wake up and get happy for a second that it is a good day to succeed but then don’t actually DO anything to make it happen– this is the definition of insanity.
Other Insane thoughts that sabotage weight loss:
1. Well, I already made a bad choice. I guess today is shot. I’ll keep on eating and then try again tomorrow.
2. I want to lose weight. I’ll start my new diet on Monday.
3. I am going on a diet. (fun fact: Did you know that ‘diet’ is a Greek word that means way of life? Yet all ‘diets’ are mostly temporary instead of lifelong?)
4. I weigh xxx. I hate myself.
5. I can’t believe I didn’t lose any weight this week / I can’t believe I gained ! Screw it. I quit.
Why do we do this to ourselves? Why do we judge ourselves so harshly? Why do we not trust ourselves or respect ourselves enough to follow through? Better yet — why do we think it’s a good idea to chow down another 1500 calories just because we already chowed down 2500 calories? Shouldn’t we take a moment of pause and use that moment to stop ourselves while we’re ahead? I’m no math whiz, but it seems that if we just stopped ourselves for a second and really thought about our choices when we’re having one of those insanity moments — we could save ourselves a lot of pounds and a lot of extra grief in the long run.
I don’t know if the symbolic light bulb is finally shining bright for me or what. But I have been asking a LOT of questions lately about my insane thinking as an overweight person. I have come to realize that half of the things I do to sabotage myself are out of sheer habit. No more no less.
What is your definition of insanity as it applies to your weight loss journey?