Drawing the Line?

October is almost ova, and that means, hopefully, I'll be back on my diet track in a big way. So far, I'm still about the same, so no complaints. I'm wearing the same clothes, and yet again, I tried shopping for pants recently only to realize I'm still in between sizes. 14s swim on me and 12 are just a little too tight. So, yes, a skirt it will be come defense time. That looks more professional any way, just not too comfy to drive hours and hours in with the whole high heels and panty hose scenario to boot, but NBG.

But, my post today is about something else.

When you do get on track, when you get into the diet groove, when do you know where to draw the line?

I spoke with C. the other day who is in the groove big time right now, losing a total of 5 lbs over the past few weeks. That point she feels great about, but on the flip side she is miserable. Why? Shouldn't she be thrilled? Jumping for joy?

She'd like to do all those things if she wasn't so damn hungry. Boy, do I know that feeling. The...what...three times now that I've seriously done the Weight Watchers thing that was exactly me at the time. For the first two to three weeks I was so, so, so hungry! Some how, though, I eventually got used to it. I could stand the hunger some how, and that's what I told her: "Stick it out one more week, and I bet you'll get used to it."

But, isn't that a sad thing to "get used to"?

Mindless Eating

I just ordered a book from Amazon.com called Mindless Eating. I watched the tail-end of 20/20 the other night, and they had a segment about the book and its author, a shrink who says there are lots of little ways to trick your mind into helping you eat less. He talked about tricks like using smaller plates and portion-sized packages.

Obviously, I don't have time to read it now with all my school work going on, but hopefully, by the time it gets here things will lighten up a little.

Now I'm Swimming

Not literally of course, no pool around here though I'm a damn good swimmer, kind of like a fish though. I'm always under the water, used to give me mother heart attacks all the time as a kid when we were in the pool. Hey, that's how we mermaids swim!

But, things are better. My work load isn't necessarily any lighter, but my confidence is building as I'm getting some good feedback here and there on my dissertation. Of course, I think it's the most wonderful piece of ground-breaking academic work known to mankind, but it is still nice to hear a kind word from those who have read it.

More when I can... still trying to be good while eating, but hey, I'm a mermaid, not a angel.

Treading Water

That's pretty much how I feel right now and probably will until the end of October. I'm just keeping my head right above water, trying not to drown. Every once in a while a wave comes and I swallow a bunch of salt water.

As far as the diet, I'm not being as religious as I have been, but I'm not driving through Wendy's every day either. Luckily, over the past few months I have developed an eating routine of sorts, and I'm just following that right now. Yes, I know a few extra pounds off by the time I defend would help me fit into some pants, but let's just say a skirt is looking pretty good right now!

Along with just trying to stick to my regular eating routine, I'm trying to work out every day with my walking DVDs, even if that just means the 30 minute 2 mile workout. With all the stress I'm under right now, I know this is extra important for my sanity if not for my ass.

So, that's the latest update. I have bucket-loads of school work to do now along with my regular freelance writing gigs, so you may not see much of me until after October is over. Funny thing is - October is usually one of my favorite months. It is great as far as the weather, and good things usually happen to me during this month. I have to believe, then, that I'll some how be rewarded for all this come October 31st!