Not about the scale

219.0

I have been "eating clean" for over a week, and I have to say, I am feeling great. My energy level is generally higher, with no ups and downs during the day; I wake up feeling refreshed, not sluggish; even when I have a headache, I don't feel like I just want to crawl in bed (unless it's a bad migraine); I have had no heartburn or GI upset whatsoever. I'm only hungry at appropriate times--i.e., when I haven't eaten for a few hours--and I'm never STARVING and have had no food cravings.

My eating has not been perfect. I could probably stand to get in more servings of veggies, and I haven't worked much yet on limiting my portions. But progress not perfection.

Despite the improvement in my eating habits, the scale hasn't really moved much. And you know what? That's OK.

Yeah, of course I would like to lose weight. I am about 70 lbs overweight by a conservative measurement (top end of my weight range, or highest BMI which isn't "overweight"). I think I am coming to the realization, though, that I like eating this way for other reasons aside from trying to be thinner.

I like the way I've been feeling physically. I know it is beneficial to my health in other ways besides promoting weight loss. I believe that, long term, eating this way will lead me to have a lower risk of heart disease and fewer migraines.

One thing I have learned about my body over the years is that it is next to impossible for me to lose weight through diet change alone. In order to lose weight, I must also exercise. I know this is not the case for everyone, but I've known this about myself for at least 10 years, so it's no surprise.

I think I am on the right track with changing my eating habits for the better. That's not to say that I am "cured" of making poor food choices. I'm sure there will be times when I will slip up and eat something processed or sugary or made with white flour. Right now, though, I am feeling good about the choices I am making, and I want to capture this feeling to motivate me to persevere when temptations and slips will inevitably come.

Now to get back on track with exercise. I hit the gym last night for a 25-minute elliptical workout and some upper body weights. It wasn't much, but it's a start.

And what do you know--after my workout, I felt FANTASTIC.