So just as another cautionary tale in scale usage, and understanding that the number coming up is NOT in fact how much 'fat' you may be losing or gaining from day to day, but just the weight of the bag that is your body and the water it contains - here are my numbers for this week:

Last monday, I was 218.4, which was no change from the previous week despite creating a calorie deficit (though, admittedly, smaller than what I had wanted it to be). This week? 214.8, which is a loss of 3.6 pounds from last week. Did I create over 9000 calories deficit this week? No, HECK no! I ate in such a way that I should have lost about 1.5-2 pounds. But what DID happen is that the bloat and water retention associated with my monthly visitor subsided, so that the true losses of the previous TWO weeks could then become apparent.

Eat sensibly, eat for your health, and understand what the scale is and isn't telling you. These things are so important for long term success. I could have gotten mad or frustrated last week and said 'screw it!' to eating healthfully, fallen off the wagon and into a sugar haze, and then ACTUALLY have stayed the same or even gained to sit at 218 or more. But perseverance and commitment, and a moderate approach to my caloric intake and nutritional balance... these things yield slow, steady results.

As mentioned in a previous post I DO get impatient sometimes, or feel like I am not *really* succeeding as much as I'd like. But that's hogwash, and negativity attempting to undermine the fact that I am experiencing very real victories over a lifelong overeating habit. Not only that, but I am succeeding in a way that I can keep up when my life will inevitably change. THAT means something!

My exercise has been spotty this past week for any number of reasons (excuses). I am not stressing about it for weight management, but for my health I'd like to focus on being committed to that particular path over this next week. I need three good days of being 'on' with my time on the bike, to get my momentum back. I never fully recommitted after my break for being sick (which, darn that swine flu, is still lingering!) and it is MORE than time I focused on my fitness as well as my caloric intake, as my goal is to be HEALTHY rather than 'slim'.

Give me a strong, slightly overweight body to a waif thin weakling who can barely lift an arm ANY DAY of the week! To be strong I have to condition my body to move and like moving. It is okay to take breaks here and there, sure, but I need to get through my head that 'sedentary' is not the lifestyle for me. It's hard, but I am committed to my goal no matter the time it takes, and TOM bloat and lethargy can't stop me!