I just found the program I used in 2012 to track my food and weight-loss progress. I weighed essentially the same in January 2012 as I did this January. By July 2012 I'd lost 11 pounds. By December I'd gained 12.
After several months of beating my head against a brick wall, I obviously quit whatever I was doing (South Beach, I think) and ate whatever I wanted, reversing the s-l-o-w downward trend and eventually reaching a new high. (My stopping also coincided with the derecho and the nine days without electricity after it hit. Nothing like a little comfort food to get you through a crisis.)
No time is wasted, really, as long as you're willing to learn from the experience.
What have I learned so far? Some of the same stuff I've heard (and said) so many times in AA:
- I must remain teachable.
- I don't know it all.
- When the student is ready, the teacher appears.
The difference this year is that instead of quitting, I tried something new. My teachers (three altogether) showed up at precisely the moment I was ready to learn. Two of them had been there, waiting patiently, for quite a while. The third came much later. And just in time.
Another thing we talk a lot about in AA is gratitude. Wow, am I grateful for an open mind and lots of support.
And a freezer full of grass-fed beef. Heh.
P.S. Heading out for a walk. As of today, I'm averaging 3.02 miles per day and am well on my way to hitting my 1000-mile goal for the year. YAY, ME!
