Yesterday marked day one for many things for me … the first day of school, the first day of Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred, the first day of a 21 day sugar fast, the first day of re-committing to writing a blog, the first day of cutting back my television viewing (unofficially).  I felt great, I was excited, and I made it through a whole day!

Traditionally in life, I’ve been a quitter.  I start things, exercise programs, weight loss adventures, hobbies, organizational systems, meal planning and don’t stick with them.  When I began my weight loss / lifestyle change a couple of years ago, I became a finisher.  I finished a couch to 5 k training program, and since have become a runner.  I finished Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred 3 or 4 times.  I was faithfully reading the Bible.  I started a blog and wrote faithfully most days.  I committed to things and followed through.

But then somewhere last spring, I became not necessarily a quitter, but more like a slacker. Still kinda doing things, but not full throttle.  I stopped recording every bite on My Fitness Pal and my weight loss stalled.  I still ran, but by Summer time it was not faithful.  I might run every day one week, and then go 2 weeks without running.  My Bible reading became non-existent.  I no longer was blogging at all, or even thinking about blogging.  Then by mid summer, I was no longer recording any bites on My Fitness Pal and back to overeating (4 bowls of ice cream while watching TV, yep!).  So now I’m 15 pounds heavier than I was in the spring.  I’m a slower runner.  I haven’t blogged to journal through my feelings.  (Because truly, my blog is about me sorting through my feelings.  If anyone else reads it and is encouraged by it – then, Bonus!) I spend 1 hour out of 167 hours in a week with God.  And as a result I’ve been grumpy, impatient, unloving, depressed, and frustrated.

So, now I’m a starter again.  I’m starting to recommit to my health and food consumption.  I knew I needed something drastic since I’ve become addicted to sugar again.  So I started a  21 day sugar fast.  (I won’t post a link to what I’m doing, because in all honesty I’m not sure how healthy it is.)  But I need something, and I figure it’s only 3 weeks.  So I’m fasting from sugar and a few other things – including: white sugar, honey, stevia, evaporated cane juice, fructose, artificial sweeteners, fruit, potatoes, breads, flour, dairy, yogurt, and more.  Then after the 21 days, I’ll slowly reintroduce some of those items back in.

My hope is that I will become satisfied again with more healthy  choices and moderation.  That I will stop craving the sweets all day long.  Before I could honestly eat 5 m&m’s and be satisfied.  By the end of the summer, I could eat a whole bag of m&m’s and then go back and look for something else to eat.  During this time, I’m not worrying about My Fitness Pal for recording what I eat, since I am confident that it will be within my calorie limit.  On day 22, I will begin again with My Fitness Pal.

I’m also starting the 30 Day Shred again, if anyone wants to start and have an accountability partner, let me know.  This is a 30 Day commitment.  I know I can do it.  I’m confident that by completing the 21 day cleanse, and the 30 Day Shred, I’ll begin to think of myself as a finisher again.  Then I can again imagine myself finally reaching a weight that is no longer considered overweight.  (Because lately I’ve been imagining myself gaining all my weight back!)  And then I will become a sustainer.  I will reach my weight loss goal and sustain it for life!

And so, yesterday I became a Starter.  Today I am pressing on.

How are you?  Where are you on your health journey?  I’m not even going to ask if you are on a health journey, because I’m realizing that we all are.  We either are taking care of ourselves or we aren’t.  Do you need to become a starter?  I am praying for you to take those first steps.  Whether it is restarting like me, or starting from scratch like me a couple of years ago, I am praying that you will begin today.  Don’t be a procrastinator, be a starter.

Are you becoming a slacker or a quitter?  I tell you from my experience, starting is so much harder than maintaining what you are doing.  Do NOT quit, do not let up, keep going, press on!  (Remember physics class? An object in motion tends to stay in motion, an object at rest tends to stay at rest … more force is required to start an object’s motion than to maintain the motion.)

Are you a finisher?  Are you now a sustainer?  Than rock on, you are my hero!  But make sure to sustain to pay attention, to never take your eyes off of your goal.  Because even if you are there now, it is so easy to let it slip away!  So forever, press on in your health!

Pressing on Together,

♥Becki

P.S.  If you happen to see me the next few weeks, and I’m a little grumpy, please forgive me … I might be missing my sugar!

Sugar cleanse: 1/21, 30 Day Shred: 1/30