AlgaeGirl's Journal, 09 Jun 09

You may have slipped up for one weekend, but you seem to have lost a lot of weight! You just have to get back on the wagon!. Everyone will have some down time every once in a while. 

I hear you about the sleep thing. I run sleep-short most of the time and I rediscover (time and time again) that fatigue and hunger feel very similar to me. I just eat more when I'm worn out. Don't worry too much about your body forgetting. It's easier to regain muscle/fitness than it was to get it in the first place so your muscles will remember. I think you just need to accept that fun-time will be a little plateau on your downward journey or maybe a slight uphill but that just makes the journey a little bit longer, it doesn't really undo any of the good work you've done. 

Oh man the sleep thing..I am with you there 100%. I am terrible when I don't sleep and that is too often. I friend of mine and I kid how different the world would be if everyone got 8 hours of sleep and was hydrated all the time. I did want to comment too on the couple days of "fun". One of my buddies and I talk a lot about the idea of "deserving" a couple of days off and how it kills us. I would really like to figure out how we can all stop equating "overeating" with "fun". I have had great success this time on my journey catching myself falling into this trap...its easy to catch yourself. At least with me, I usually have a 8 hour to 5 day run up to the "event at which I deserve a break". Popcorn at the movies is big for me (but I have had great fun at several recent movies without it). Birthdays, Potlucks, Big sporting events (Go Pens) all seem to be reason I used to use for eating. While it may sound really ridiculous I am finding that if I use the time before these events to visualize them (and I mean really visualize them) without food....or even with moderation in my eating, I am waaaay more likely to make it through them. Now after doing this several times I am realizing that going through these events without overeating is NOT A HARDSHIP unless you think it is. The amusement park is fun even without the cotton candy. The movie is good without the slathered buttered popcorn, the game is great (if they win) without an overindulging in chips and salsa. BBQ's and socializing is great with out eating 2 1/2 plates from the potluck....well you get the idea. So I'd challenge you to rethink FUN! And I am not advocating NO FOOD at these kind of events or holidays I am arguing that overindulging has NEVER added to my fun. I am finding it is really fun to pound a hill on my bike that before would kill me. Or keep up on the bike with a kid literally 1/2 my age, or listen to my wife say this morning that I don't have a crease near my waist anymore...that was FUN. Sorry for the long reply but getting rid of this my "Overeating is FUN" mentality has helped me sooo much that you really hit a nerve here. Try redefining Fun, it might help. Best to you always. Jim  

I wish I could sleep. I suffer from some not so fun insomnia from time to time. Dont end up falling asleep till like three am then wake up at like six. After a few days of that I am about to just drop dead. No wonder I dont ever have the energy to work out.... well somday we will figure things out.... Blessed Be Mark 

Thanks for all the support. It's got my mind moving and that'll get me moving. And Jim...you're right. Overeating ISN'T fun, though it may seem like fun at the time. The real fun is doing things I love, and with the people I love. (The best parts of the Wii and Cheese party were catching up with two friends I haven't seen since the LAST party and beating the skinny athletic girls at Dance Dance Revolution!) Now...if I could just get those eight blessed hours of sleep....