Did you make it through the weekend?

     It's been one week since we started this 50 day challenge.  That means we only have 43 days left!!  So how did you do? Did you eat exactly as you wanted too?  Did you have a few times when you found it really difficult?
     I was faced with 2 family events this weekend that could have derailed my eating.  But I went in FULLY prepared.  I brought my own meals with me and brought back up snacks.  So for me I was completely successful and it feels really good not to give in to temptation.
      The hardest part when you are trying to take weight off at this stage of the game, is that you really have to be perfect with your eating.  Gene is losing  quickly because,well....... lets be honest he is a sugar addict.  He loves his soda and his cookies and sweets.  When you strip that out, you will see big losses initially.  That weight loss will start to level out and slow down. For those of you that are in that stage DON'T get frustrated and give up!
     Most of us put in a really good day of eating, step on the scale and expect to see results right away right?  I mean you put the time and effort, in you want to see results!  I know I do, and it can get really frustrating when you eat really well for 3 or 4 days and the scale still does not move! AGH.... I hate that!!! That's when your mind will start to play tricks on you.  You start to say things like "I've done really well these last few days and nothing has changed, so I might as well have _________ "  Or "What's the point of doing all this work when it doesn't pay off?"  I totally know what you are thinking, I've thought it.  I've wanted to give up, I've wanted to just throw it in.  But I can tell you this...... weight loss does not happen over night.  You have to give up that desire for instant gratification, put your time in..... I mean a lot of time and effort in..... and eventually, you WILL see progress.  I PROMISE!!!!!!
     I also want to remind you that it's not just a scale that determines your progress.  You can do measurements, you can have body fat analysis done.  What was most important for me was to see the progress in my health.  In 2 short weeks I noticed I was not getting headaches,  I was not getting migraines, I was sleeping better,  my energy was slowly improving.  These changes will be subtle, you should take note of them.
     Symptoms like those listed above are not "normal" not everyone lives with them.  Funny I thought is was a normal part of aging.  NOPE! It's your body trying to tell you...... Your doing something wrong. If your having these symptoms don't kid yourself by saying "I eat healthy" healthy can mean so many things to many different people.  Listen to your body, make small changes and then ultimately enjoy the reward of having a healthy happy body!!!

This is one of the meals I had prepared this weekend:  Spaghetti squash, low sodium tomato sauce.. (this one is from trader joes), ground turkey.  For dessert: 1/2 apple sliced with cinnamon