Last week at this time it was -20*. The kids were entering week THREE of being home from school (extra two days home due to the cold) and many of us had not yet gotten back into the after-holidays routine yet.

Flash forward 7 days to today…it’s 36* outside and that’s ABOVE zero!! Heat wave!! All the kids are awake and getting ready for school. Our Weight Watchers meeting were full last Thursday and Friday and many of us are starting to feel like ourselves again.

We always complain about how slow the weight loss process feels but the reality is, you can start to feel better after just a few days of healthy food choices, cutting back on sugar and refined foods, moderate moving around and portion control. All your Holiday weight might not be gone in a week, but you can certainly feel better and be assured that you’re on the right track.

The moral of today is JUST GET STARTED. A friend emailed me last week to ask my advice on how to get motivated to RE START and here is my answer:

Maintaining our weight is a management process. It’s on going and ever changing as circumstances in our lives change. Our job is to do what we can to adapt to the changes life throws us…good and bad…by finding a new routine that works for our current stage in life.

You’re not alone…we all go through it. I wish once we find a routine that works for us, we could just keep it, but as you know, life doesn’t work that way.

So…back to the drawing board and start as a new member in your own mind.

1.) Relax, breathe and review all the things about your current situation that are GOOD. List all that you’re grateful for from these changes. Keep thinking…it might take a while, but you’ll see the GOOD things too!

2.) Determine what has to happen for you to start the weight loss process moving in the downward direction. Make a list in order of importance.
My list looks like this:
A. Exercise (I don’t love it but I need it for stress relief).
B. Plan my meals and snacks.
C. Grocery shop. ( I highly recommend using the grocery delivery service, Peapod)

3.). Take a look at your daily and weekly schedule. Determine how and where the top 3 things listed above can be worked in on a regular basis. Don’t worry about all the things you want to do…just work fitting in 3 everyday.

It’s one step at a time. One day, one hour, one minute. And in my opinion it has to been done with gratitude. No matter how hard our lives our, if we can turn our thought to our blessings, we start to feel the satisfaction that food and over eating can NEVER provide. You’ll be amazed at how quickly you feel inspired once you just get started!

Just my thoughts!!

All IS well!