Reality Check

Good morning.  Well, it wasn't, but I'm working on changing that.  Got up this morning, turned the coffee pot on which hubby had loving set up for me, wandered into the office and turned on the computer while waiting for that first lovely, dark, rich cup of coffee.  Went back out to the kitchen and coffee was spilling over the machine and onto my kitchen counter and working it's way to the tile floor!  Oh, no, not again!  This happened last year shortly after surgery when I was in a cast and on crutches, and was much worse that time.  I had coffee on the countertop, in the cabinets, on the floor.  What a mess.  But we caught it in time today and only had "half the mess".  Ughh.  :)

But that's not why I title today's post "Reality Check".  The reason is I got on the scale this morning and saw a number that made my eyes jump out of my head.  What's going on?  I thought I was doing good.  Why am I seeing that number.  I don't EVER want to see THAT NUMBER! 

Okay, come on, let's be honest.  Well, actually, big confession.  I haven't been working the program completely.  Last weekend was a weekend of "whatevers", of "having a little", of "oh, don't worry, you'll work it off", of "I'm at goal, I can have that".  One day led to another, and before I knew it, it was three days of either completely out of control or not quite in control.

What did I do when I first saw that number?  Got angry, of course, stomped my feet, stated "no way I am going to my meeting tomorrow and getting on that scale", and walked away.  Wait, stop right there!  That's right.  I said it, the same thing I fought to avoid the entire time I was losing weight to get to goal.  Here I am, at goal for a year, and still thinking that way. 

But where does that get me?  Does it really matter?  Does it change anything by skipping my meeting, by not going and getting on that scale?  Will the number be any different tomorrow morning if I don't go to my meeting?  OF COURSE NOT! 

Then I came into my office, and popped in to read some blogs.  Thanks to MizFit and a post on her blog today by Kyle.   So hit the nail on the head.  Once you get to goal, you can't stop, you have to keep going.  This is something I have to do for the rest of my life.  I know this, have known this for a long time, but somehow, I started letting life happen, putting my feet up, rewarding myself a little too much maybe, and just letting it all go.  But does it work that way?  Can I maintain and stay at a healthy weight if I just throw up my hands?  No, of course not.  Have to keep working.  

A perfect example just came to mind.  I love to garden.  I love flower gardens and vegetable gardens.  I love to just sit and look out over the garden, the beautiful plants, the bright colored flowers and vegetables, and it's hard work to get a garden going.  But what if once it's flourishing, once the vegetables are growing and the flowers are popping, butterflies and hummingbirds buzzing around, what if I just left it, didn't maintain it, weed it, water it, what would happen?  Yeah, not so pretty.
YOU HAVE TO KEEP WORKING IT!

That's exactly what we need to do, keep working it.  I also can't beat myself up and get frustrated because of my limitations right now.  No, I can't run and yes, the gym is closed this week, but it's not forever!  The gym will open next week, and I AM DETERMINED to run again.  

So here I am, ready to start the day.  I will go to my meeting tomorrow.  I will get on that scale and I will move on.  When does that moving on start?  Does it start tomorrow after I go to my meeting and weigh in?  No.  Of course not!  It starts now, right this minute, right this second!