Body Clutter Mission #6

1. List one baby step that will help you be more aware of what you are putting into your mouth.

I have already started doing this, but my answer is to track my calories. When I am actively counting calories, whether limiting to 1200 or 1500, I am more aware of everything that goes into my mouth. No more half regular, half diet pop. Today I was at the scrapbooking store and I reached for a Jolly Rancher candy. Before I took it, though, I thought about the fact that I had already budgeted my calories for dinner and I didn't really have any calories left over. So I didn't eat the candy. It really wouldn't have been too bad - I might have even stayed within my calorie range. But I thought about what I was going to do. When I am not counting calories, I do not think about it. So that is my baby step - I'm going to keep counting calories and recording them on SparkPeople.

2. When it comes to movement, what is a simple baby step that is doable for you today?

Walking. Tonight Stephanie and I went for a walk, even though I didn't have any cardio scheduled (I'm on a M,T,Th,F schedule for cardio). We walked for about half an hour. It wasn't much, but it was something and it was good for me. I can walk every day, whether it is on my treadmill, or around the neighborhood. I don't have to do it at the same time every day, and I can feel free to vary my routine with bike riding or aerobics. But whether or not I do anything else, I can walk every day.

3. List one baby step that will help you with your perfectionist attitude.

I will remind myself that it's okay to go over on calories. It's okay not to see the scale move each week. It's okay not to exercise every day. It's not okay to give up. If I go over on calories one day, it's okay - I've probably been under enough days to make up for it already. If not, no biggie - just pick myself up and keep at it the next day. If I don't get exercise in one day, it's fine. I'll just exercise tomorrow and it will be okay. If the scale doesn't move, I won't get discouraged. Maybe I'll lose 2 lbs next week and that will make up for the lb I thought I would lose this week. Above all, I will allow for flexibility. Moderation is an art, not a science. It is balance, not calculation. It is freedom, not a prison and I will not use it to chain myself down, but instead to help me FLY.