What I learned today

Since I'm trying to focus on weight loss and overall fitness I've gone back to reading some of the weight loss blogs I used to read and I've found some new ones. They really are a good inspiration. When they are doing good they inspire me on and when they are having tough times I try to help and know that I am not alone in this struggle. And it is a struggle.

I came across a couple of entries that really struck me. The first was about consistency. He relates weight loss to Entrecard dropping and it really works. It really struck me because I try to be consistent with my Entrecard dropping and I knew there were times when I wasn't. I knew that other commitments (like sleep) got in the way and there were days I just couldn't do it. But I didn't give up, as soon as I could I got back to it. The same things happen in the weight loss game. Things will come up, other commitments will get in the way and I can't do what I want to. The difference is with Entrecard I get back with the program as soon as I can. I find myself going and dropping cards if I have 10 spare minutes. With weight loss I will throw my hands up in disgust (literally and figuratively) and reach for the nearest bag of cookies. What it boils down to, at least for me, is that I will allow myself some slack with Entrecard and do the best I can, but I demand perfection from myself in weight loss and see failure when I can't meet that standard. Extremely interesting and I think I may have a new way of thinking about things now.

The other one that struck me was a man who lost over 50 lbs and has been maintaining it for a while now. The last couple of days he's been struggling with his food demons. The reason his last few posts have really hit home is because even after all this time his demons can still get control of him and he has to battle them back into submission. Again. Doesn't this ever end? Isn't there ever going to be a time where sugars and sweets aren't beating me up? It's definitely better now then it used to be, but it's still a struggle. The real problem is that one solution does not work all the time. Sometimes if I avoid sugar completely that works to quell the cravings. Other times I can have a little bit and that keeps the sugar monster under control. Then there are those times when nothing but a full blown binge will stop my raging cravings. What always works is not having the stuff around. If it's not there I can't eat it and that always works.

But these are just a couple of reasons why I've really come to love blogs. From one I learn a new way of looking at things and hopefully handling it. From another I learn that this journey is not easy. I can't let my guard down because the demons are just waiting for a chink in the armor to appear.

On a side note, I'm playing with the delayed posting thing. I want to see how well it works. I'm going to set this to publish later today.