No, I haven’t fallen into a pile of ding dongs and gone into a sugar coma. I’m still here!!! With my site transition and a few other things, I took the past two Friday’s off from posting, but I was still burnin ba-bay!!!

One of the comments in this Fat Burnin’ Friday ^[1] was a good one (the comment didn’t come over to this new site so you won’t see it there). I wanted to take today to get my girl, Delores motivated! Here is a part of Delores’ comment :

What did you do when you just got tired of exercising and recording your food, etc. I had done well, but the past few weeks I have gained a few pounds (to be honest, I just cannot bring myself to do a blog post about this so am just ‘commenting’) and just cannot seem to get back on track. It is as if I have no will power whatsoever to deny myself. I have avoided going to the doctor but I need to do so because my foot just hurts, and has since before Christmas. But as a result I have not been walking. Anyway, what have you done for the long haul — to stay on it even when you just wanted to eat chocolate like there was no tomorrow? Oh, and I know part of it is stress: my husband recently lost his job. But still, I just sort of need a kick in the you-know-what to get going again and I can’t seem to give it to myself. So — any advice?

First off Delores, I really hope your hubs’ job situation gets worked out soon! The stress of no job/income can be detrimental to your weight loss efforts – or any efforts for that matter!

On the motivation, it can die off. That’s where staying focused and determined comes in. Last year when I started this journey, logging my food and exercise was as much of my routine as eating healthy and exercising. I had something tangible to look to for those weeks when I was disappointed about results. I knew I was working hard and if I didn’t have a weight loss, I could clearly go back and see it wasn’t because I was slacking.

And, when I want to eat chocolate like there is no tomorrow, sometimes I do that now. But, in the first three months I wouldn’t t touch it! It’s almost like you have to go through a detox to get that craving out of your system. That sounds crazy but it really works. If you can just go even one day without it, then make that 3 days, and so on, pretty soon, you won’t want it. And, when you again start to have a little to splurge, you’ll find that you just don’t want it as much – it starts to taste different. Also, consider eating lower calorie versions or healthier versions – dark chocolate has antioxidants that are good for you (obviously in moderation). So, when I have just one piece of dark chocolate that craving is satisfied.

There isn’t a one-size fits all with this weight loss stuff. Trust me, I still have my weaknesses – sometimes I fall and other times I’m thankful to have the stubborn characteristic (because I’m stubborn against my own weakness and refuse to give in). The bottom line with this weight loss is you have to WANT IT more than anything else!

Never give up! I didn’t and wouldn’t, and that is one of the very reasons I think I am successful and so close to goal! There will be many things thrown at you to set you back, but SPITE THEM and overcome! You will be so happy in just one week knowing that you are stronger than those circumstances! Good luck!

So, how did you do this week? I started a new workout DVD, along with my running in hopes to get super buff for summer. I’ll see how it goes and share more of my progress in the weeks ahead!

Fat Burnin’ Pounds Lost since Jan 1-08: 32
Fat Burnin’ Pounds to go: 8

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