Sept. 4: Digging In

Now that the number one stressor in my life is resolved (money, employment and lack thereof), it's time to get things back on track.

I can focus because:

a.)  I have a job that will pay enough for me to actually live on.
b.)  I know what city to focus my apartment hunt on
c.)  I know things are turning around for the better

So, now to attack the things I have let go:  my diet and exercise plan.

I'm disappointed.  I thought that I had conquered emotional eating.  What I've learned is that you don't conquer it - it's like being a recovering alcoholic, and it's something that will always be there.  I can manage it through most things but if the stress is intense enough I will cave.

I have to forgive myself, first of all.  I need to look at the situation as a friend would see it.  I need to take a look at the things I have been going through, understand that it was an intolerable situation, and let it go.  I have to be kind and understanding to myself, which is way easier said than done when you are a perfectionist. 

So what do you do when you've screwed up and put on 8 hard-fought pounds during "maintenance"?

I'm no expert (except for the putting on pounds part), but I guess I just need to start dieting again.  After 8 months of it, I should be darned good at it.

I'm going back to the beginning of my plan and starting from there.

I'm going to combine Tosca Reno's Clean Eating diet with calorie counting.  My biggest mistake occurred when I stopped tracking my food.  If I had logged it and seen that I was consuming 2000-3000 calories a day, I think I would have caught this before I gained 8 pounds.  But maybe I didn't want to catch it.  Perhaps I just wanted to indulge and try to feel better.

Anyway, today I begin tracking my food and cutting out all the processed junk.  There is nothing "bad" in my house right now, so no purge is needed.  I have delicious and healthy groceries in the fridge and I'm going to do some food prep for the week ahead.  I'm going to leave the debit card and cash at home so that there is no way to veer off course through a handy drive through.  I'm going to start boring you all by posting my eats, calories and macros, as well as my work outs.

I'm glad I have a long weekend to detox myself and get back on track!