What Keeps You on Track?

You know that feeling that you get when a craving kicks in.  When you are hungry and your stomach is growling.  You are in a rush and you need to make a decision about food.  Your head may say, get a donut.  It might also say get a McDonald's breakfast sandwich.  Well, this morning donuts and sausage biscuit sandwiches tempted me.  They called out my name and said, just do it... you can always get back on track later.  FALSE.

Some days our willpower is stronger than others.  Today, mine was a brick wall, no one was ruining my healthy plan.  I walked right past the donuts and drove right past two McDonald's.  I didn't even look back once.  So, my question is, "what keeps you on track."  When you want to derail and succumb to your craving what is something that picks you up and keeps you focused and on track?

For me, I stay focused for a lot of reasons.  The first one, because it is the closest is because I am going to Florida in two months.  Swimsuits, dresses and shorts.  Airplanes (yuck), amusement parks and swimming pools.  I want to look better in my pictures this year than I did last year in Hawaii.  More than that I want to feel better than I did last year.  Next thing, I have five weddings to go to this year.  I want to look great in the outfits that I wear and feel comfortable.

One of the major reasons is because I know one year from now I will be trying on wedding dresses.  I want to look and feel my best.  My sister and several other brides that I know have said, "I wish I would have pushed my self to be as healthy as I could be in my wedding dress."  I know people have had to get gowns that they didn't want to because they weren't at their comfortable weight.  I don't want to have that problem.

One of the last things that keeps me on track is other people noticing that I am losing weight, complimenting me or telling me that I have inspired them in some way.  Yesterday, one of my co-workers wrote to me and said,

"I don’t know why or how it finally happened where I finally couldn’t stand what I was doing to myself, but it happened.  I am more focused than I have ever been and I just wanted to thank you for being inspirational in my journey to good health.  We work in a bldg with food everywhere, and it is worse for you, because you are like 50 feet away from it.  I admire your willpower, strength and determination to do this, despite all the obstacles.  It will make you an even stronger person in the long run, it just kind of stinks right now.  Feel free to call me to be there for you whenever you feel down and “emotionally hungry”.  I have a little note on my computer “If hunger is not the problem, food is not the solution”.  And since food hasn’t helped that so far, I’m trying something different this time."

I was very touched by this.  Someone that I work with noticed my actions and was able to positively change something in her life as a result.  It is the ultimate pay it forward.  This is the kind of kind words that keeps me motivated.  When you think that it is not just about you, but that someone else looks up to you or notices your hard work you want to continue on even more.  I have never been more motivated in my life.  I have my friends and family supporting me.  I have co-workers who admire me and my willpower.  I also have all of you following the ups and downs and keeping me in check.

So, today you should tell someone that you admire them.  That you are motivated by their actions and determined to live the healthy lifestyle that the are striving for.  You just may say the words that keeps them on track and helps them with a roadblock on their journey!  :)

Must-Have Monday-Newbie's

Today, I met a friend for happy hour at the restaurant Crave in the new trendy area of the twin cities known as the West End.  I had not seen this friend in a year and a half, which is always a good bad feeling for me. On one hand I am ecstatic to catch up with my friend that I haven't seen in a long time and on the other hand I am always nervous about what they think I look like (in comparison to the last time they saw me, as in I hope I am not bigger than I was before).

I am also nervous to tell people that I am eating healthy and not drinking.  This is not because I am afraid that I won't have willpower, but it is because I don't want to make other people feel bad for their drink and food choices because I am choosing to live a certain way.  So far it has NOT been an issue.  I am actually not sure what I am afraid of.  Is there a chance that someone would actually say, "You're eating HEALTHY!?! What a crock of sh**!"  No, people wouldn't say that even if they think that.  I have also found an interesting behavior pattern emerging.  My friends who are thin, healthy and active are totally understandable and supportive of my decisions, while it seems that some people who are heavy or who enjoy a poor diet are always saying things like, "you can't eat like a rabbit forever, you will fall of the wagon some day!"  I know, i know this is NOT rocket science.  Of course people who are overweight want people to eat like them because they want to continue to tell themselves that it is okay for them to eat that way.  As I was thinking about this in the car today all I could think was..... WOW!  This used to be me not that long ago.  I used to love when someone would say let's just veg out and eat snacks and lay around all day and order take out.  I used to be the person who I have now just figured out.  I have just foiled my past behaviors.  This was a mini break through of sorts for me.  I know that this journey is more than just changing my willpower and outlook on life.  It is more that just determination and hard work.  It is a large part about changing my behavior and how I look at food.  Losing weight is not just about what you put into your body, but also what you take out of it.  The bad thoughts, the negative images, the poor behaviors.  I am not where I want to be in a year, but I am better off than I was a year ago or yesterday for that matter.

Alright.... after that moment of personal growth I would like to start my first ever Must-Have Monday post.  I am going to post three things that I can't live without every week.  This is a time to give thanks and to spread the love. This week's focus is on new items that I have discovered.

1. Boca Crumbles- Honestly, I just discovered how amazing this product is and I am already trying to dream up things that I can cook with it.  I made a healthier take on Mexican pizza using this as the meat and it was FABULOUS!  I will post the recipe tomorrow.  It is NOT healthy as in as good for you as a salad, but it is a much healthier way to get a Mexican fix.

2. Trader Joe's Chicken Sausage.  They have many different flavors and they are all really good.  One sausage is about 100 calories and between 4.5 and  grams of fat.  This is obviously not as healthy as regular chicken breasts or other lean meats, but it is a nice change of scenery and good to have every once in awhile. They sell similar chicken sausages at many other grocery stores if you don't have a TJ's by you.

3. Pears- It doesn't mater which variety.  Pears are rocking my world as of late.  I am loving them and eating one a day it seems like.  They must be in season because they are relatively cheap right now and super delicious.