Power of two -- or more!

I am a perfect example of how great the buddy system works. August 1, 2010, I signed a contract with my friend, Ann, in which we both committed to exercising at least five times a week. Some would say we were nuts -- actually drawing up a formal contract and each of us signing it. But it meant something to each of us, and it's a contract we have honored for eight months now.

I really have to be injured not to exercise. And even after spraining my ankle a few weeks ago, and pinching a nerve in my neck last week, last night -- the first night I have felt yoga-ready in weeks -- I headed back to class at Yoga4Everybody in Fairfiled. And I was back again at 7 a.m. today to take another class. This morning, as I relaxed during the last asana, Savasana, I realized I had started to cry. That was how happy I felt to be back at the studio. A year ago, if I had a crystal ball, I would have thought I had crossed over into some dark, weird place.

Exercising is a way of life for me, and Ann as well.

Wednesday morning, the topic of Weight Watchers was the importance of finding a diet buddy. There I sat, with Ann on my right, husband Jack on my left, and all I kept thinking was, "How lucky can I be?"

I have the support I need to lose weight, both at home and when I am away from home. I could call on either one of them to talk me down from eating a package of Twizzlers. And either one would be more than willing to help out, would not utter a word of judgment, and would urge me to make another choice.

As I was sitting there in my meeting, I thought to myself that it really is time for me to stop fooling around with my weight loss journey. It is time to get real, and to finally shed the pounds I want to lose. I'm not happy being the weight I am now, so why, for heaven's sake, don't I do something about it?

For some odd reason, something clicked deep inside me this week. I think I know what it was, but I need to think about it some more today. Hopefully I'll figure it out by tomorrow morning so I can put it to words.

Excuses, excuses

Has it really been three weeks since I posted? I could blame it on the computer virus that attacked my hard drive and left me without a computer for two weeks. Or that I had gotten out of the habit of posting each day, and did not make the time to post.

But those, like everything, are just excuses. There is no good reason why I have been ignoring my blog. And this morning, while I was doing my three-mile Walk Away the Pounds with Leslie Sansone and her posse, I decided I had to post, because I heard something last night that is too good not to pass on.

But first, I want to share some exciting news: I have actually been a very good diet girl since last I posted. I went back to Weight Watchers, have taken two yoga classes a week at Yoga4Everybody in Fairfield, and start my Saturdays at 7 a.m. at Penfield Beach doing Qi Gong and Tai Chi. And I walk at least 45 minutes a day.

But what I really wanted to share is something my Weight Watchers' leader Karen told us last night. The topic was uncontrollable eating -- when you cannot stuff enough food in your mouth in a certain period of time. Been there, hope to never do that again. But Karen said if you ever feel an attack coming on -- or if you ever find yourself reaching for something better left on the plate -- STOP, DROP and STROLL.

• STOP what you are doing
  
• DROP the food and
  
• STROLL away!!!!!!!!
  

Thank you Karen for your wise words -- and for giving me something short to write about today. Until tomorrow....