Is Anyone Still Out There?

Wow...it has been almost a year since I last blogged. So here I am, confession time. I never did really get back at the running or workouts. Over the last 10 months I have been hit and miss about exercise and my eating. I was doing okay at maintaining, so I got lazy about it all. And then there was a pound here, a pound there gained, and I started thinking I really should do something about it. Funny, just thinking doesn't get the job done. Instead, I never did DO anything about it. Instead I traveled with friends, ate whatever I wanted, and watched as the dust gathered on my exercise machines. In fact, I seem to have actually lost my membership card for the indoor track I was using last year. (I did stop by there to renew when it was time, and actually did use the track that day. Hmmm.....one day in how many? Not very effective!) So as work switches out of its summer schedule, reality sets in. I had gained about 5 pounds during the winter and spring, and just during the summer added 15 pounds to that. All that hard work. All those hours at the track. Gone. Swish!! Just like that. So here I am. Once again facing the reality of having lost control. Once again staring in the face of my lifelong battle and struggling with all my food addictions. But.........
As of two weeks ago, I got back on plan with my diet. While I know some don't approve, I know what works for me. I have cut out carbs. Once I sincerely do that, I stop getting cravings and only feel hungry when it is truly necessary to fuel my body. I am back to drinking massive amounts of water again. Okay, not massive, but a minimum of 64 oz a day, some days much more. Since my weigh-in on August 10, I have lost 8.4 pounds. So far so good. But now it's time to add the exercise back to the program. Yesterday I went out with Steve on his walk (he does a mile and a half every day) and ran spurts during our walk. I almost managed a quarter of a mile in one shot, but fell a bit short. But it's okay. That was the first running I've done in awhile. The one thing I have been fairly good about is on Sundays I usually go for a hike in the desert. It use to be a group thing last year, but now it's just me. And that's not a bad thing. It gives me a chance to really get into my own head. (Although, one Sunday I was out there alone and managed to startle a snake in my path. I was surprised at just how fast I can move in reverse!) However......I have a hiking partner headed across country. My folks will be here next month and my Mom is looking forward to hiking with me. I can't wait! It's always a great motivator to have someone else involved. It will be our "mommy and me" time. As she starts getting use to the desert and temps start to go down some, I know we can push each other to do more. And, it's time to start hitting the track again. I am going to make a real effort to do that at least three times during the week this week. There are other workouts to do and places to do them, but I don't want to be unrealistic about I know I will do at this point. I've spent the last two weeks getting the food under control, now I will start with getting the habit of stopping on the way home to use the track back into my habits. Once step at a time, right?
Sad thing is, I need to take down my "lost 35 pounds" badge. But just for now! I will be there again. I WILL!