Well, I'm almost two weeks late in putting up a 6-month post, but here it is! I'm not really sure that anyone actually still reads my blog or not, seeing that my posts have become few and far between, but in any event, it will make for a good journal for myself to look back on, if nothing else. :)
At my 6-month mark, I had lost a total of 61.3 pounds, and most of the time, I'm pretty happy about that. Sometimes, though, when I look at how much more I still need to lose before reaching my ultimate goal, it can be very easy to get discouraged. Isn't that how our big goals can get though? So often, people are excited and motivated at the beginning of a journey, but then (as one pastor I heard called it) you find yourself trudging through "the valley of in-between" and things can go awry if you're not careful. This is the place where the hard work really happens, and as a result, it's also the place that most people give up. It's here that the new-ness of beginning the adventure has faded, but the finish line isn't yet in sight. It's the place where I've had to stop and look and remind myself that I'll never get past the 100-pounds-lost mark if I don't make it past 60, 70, 80, and 90 first. And that means that I have to do what I know is the best thing for my body, no matter what.
That being said, I'm happy to be able to say that the Christmas holiday season and it's selection of tempting treats has not gotten the best of me. I purposely made the decision ahead of time that I would increase my daily calorie allowance for the last few days to put myself at a maintenance level, instead of a loss level. It was the best way for me to be able to approach the parties, dinners, and events with a sense of balance. I've still faithfully logged every bite I've eaten into my food journal to make sure I stay on track, and as I've stepped onto the scale each morning, I've experienced a great feeling of accomplishment. I've eaten a couple of the cookies my boys made, enjoyed Christmas dinner and eating out with family and friends, and will have a piece of my son's birthday cake this weekend, all without guilt, and without adding any pounds. In fact, I've still even lost a little during this time anyway! In my opinion, that equals success!
As I prepare to return my daily caloric intake to loss levels again on Sunday, I look forward to launching into 2012 with the confidence of knowing that I will reach the 100-pounds-lost mark and beyond in this new year! I CAN and WILL do this!
