New Year, New Ideas

Happy New Year everyone.  I hope you had a very safe and happy holiday season.  I am very happy the holidays are over.  No more cookies.  No more candy.  No more crazy eating.  I'll admit that after my last blog post, I really watched myself.  I knew what I was going into, and I'd already sabotaged a good portion of my success in 2013.  I'm already starting 2014 going uphill so no need to make things worse by going food crazy.

I'm happy to report that I haven't eaten any candy since my meltdown in December.  I figured that I need to start slow by getting rid off my sugar demons so I let the candy go, but I didn't eliminate all sweets and I had dessert here and there.  This past week, I only had one dessert.  This week I plan on having no dessert.  So far, I'm doing okay.  I'm taking it one day at a time.

 

I started tracking again using MyPlate on New Year's Day, which is the Livestrong app that I used so well in the past.  This time around, I'm making my own meals instead of relying on Lean Cuisines.  I'm focusing on steamed vegetables to keep me full and protein.  It's funny.  As soon as I started tracking, I felt so much better.  I really work well when I have set boundaries.  I feel more in control of my appetite.  I also make sure to keep my hands busy so I've come up with two ideas to keep me focused on something besides food, and knowing what my triggers are... IDLE TIME!

 

1. Coffee and Tea - I've never been a coffee drinker.  But, when I have drank coffee, I noticed it help keep my appetite under control. I'm sure it's due to the caffeine, and I don't do well on caffeine.  Makes me jittery and nauseous.  However, I'm will to give this a try.  It helped that I was able to procure a mighty fine Keurig machine for a very low price.  And I'm in LOVE!  I love flavored coffee, and I find that if I have a cup mid morning or mid afternoon, it really gets me through those IDLE TIME moments between meals.  I use coffee in the morning or afternoon and decaffeinated tea at night.  It's been awesome over these last two weeks.  I have one cup of coffee and one cup of tea everyday.  It's working great, and it's a lot of fun picking out different coffee and tea flavors.
2. Cross-stiching - I know! I know!  Who knew I could cross stich?  My grandmother taught me how when I was a teenager, and I used to do it quite a bit when I was in college.  I find that if I keep my hands moving, they don't have time to move and find something to put in my mouth.  So far that's working well.  Plus, I'll be able to give so many of you something I've made with my own two hands.

I've only been tracking since Wednesday and I'm down 2 pounds.  I only weighed myself today because it's Sunday and official weight in day.  I admit that it's early, and it won't always be like this. I know you lose the most in the first week.  I've been there and done that.  Hell, I just did it, and I'm pissed that I'm making myself do it all over again.  I'm trying not to focus on that too much.  Just take it one day at a time.  Don't beat myself up of the small stuff and focus on my goals for the year.

 

I also found new inspiration.  A really good friend of mine, who I met when I travelled to Spain in college, suggested that we run a half marathon in our host town of Trujillo, Spain.  At first I was thinking, "No way."  I'm really not that enthused about running another half marathon.  I didn't even sign up for the Cleveland Half in May.  I figured, "Been there. Done that."  However, it got me thinking.  If I ever did run another half, and I'm sure I would, I'd like it to be in a different place.  I haven't visited my host family since 2001, when my "cousin" Alicia came to South Carolina.  This is the perfect opportunity to do something amazing as well and visit with family and friends, and return to my host country.  So I made a decision.

 

I am running in the Trujillo Half Marathon - God willing.  I want to be in prime condition to shatter my run time in Cleveland, and Trujillo is no joke.  It's a lot of hill. Steep hills.  Much more hilly than Cleveland.  So, I will add this to my goal list.  Inspiration leads to motivation. 

 

My mind was spinning on New Year's Eve. So much to be happy for, and yet I was also quite disappointed in myself. I didn't know how to put it in words. It was a great year and yet it wasn't so great.  I'm going to leave it at that because I don't want to dwell on the negative aspects of the year.  I lived, I've learned, and I'm moving on.  Hard Work.  It pays off.