self control

Someone I work with is really mean. Really really mean. The overnight shift had a pot luck last night, and they left their extra desserts out for the morning shift to enjoy. There is a tray of a dozen ooey gooey cinnimon rolls and half a dozen ooey gooey glazed doughnuts and a huge tray of cookies. And they're all on the counter three feet from my desk.

I dread January every year. You know - when all the calorie counters come out. January means that many of my coworkers go on their annual diet, and since misery loves company they come up with the grand idea to have a big "biggest loser" contest. I dread it. I mean, I know I need to lose weight, and I know that having dieting partners makes it easier. It just irks me when people that only need to lose 20-30 pounds constantly whine/complain/talk about how 'fat' they are. I could lose 20 pounds and people wouldn't notice. I need to lose over 100.

Last year I dutifully paid my $40 into the pool, and sent my weight to the team captain every Wednesday morning. At the time I was on a big project at work and was spending 2-4 days a week in Georgia. I think by the the end of the six-week contest I'd lost five pounds. By then pretty much everyone had tucked the calorie counters away and had gone back to drinking soda pop and indulging in chinese food and pizza.

Throughout December I heard talks about "Biggest Loser 2010." Not the one on TV. I noticed that I withdrew into myself more and more. I wouldn't give the ring leader a straight answer on if I'd participate. She put my name on the list anyway. The contest rules were distributed, and we were to start Tuesday, January 5th (the day Biggest Loser 2010 - the TV show started).

The guidelines are:
*drink at least 64 ounces of water per day
*excersize 30 minutes a day for 5 days out of 7
*set personal goal of your caloric intake and stick to it
*Do one thing every day to make extra effort:
*park farther away
*take the stairs
*walk when you could be sitting
*leave vending maching money at home
*no fast food
*plan in advance to eat
*no unncecessary munching

For each day the guidelines are not met we put $1 into a pool. At the end of the month whomever has done the best (meaning has paid the least into the pool) wins the money.

On January 4th I made a decision. This was doable. While I felt pressure to join in, I didn't feel the stress of last years' because it wasn't about percentage or number of pounds lost. So I decided that my personal goals would be to a) follow the contest guidelines and b) lose 30 pounds by the time I turn 30 on February 20th. On the 5th I dug out my 1/2 gallon water bottle and dusted off my scale. Later that week I spent my Christmas money on EA Active Sports for the Wii.

So far I'm doing great. I've been having protein shakes made with skim milk for breakfast, salads or pita sandwiches for lunch. And I've been drinking 80+ ounces of water a day. The first week I was getting into my routine. I didn't have enough water the first day and missed two days of exercising, so I had to put $3 in the pot. Week two I did much better, only having to put $1 in (my workout got interuppted one day and I didn't get finished).

The best part is I've lost 8 pounds! I'm getting stronger, too. I think I've lost more inches than pounds, which I attribute to muscle starting to build up. I've also realized my willpower and self control getting much better. When I do watch TV I get up on commercial breaks and do housework. I've cleaned the kitchen, kept up on my dishes and my parents' (I live in my parents' basement and share the kitchen). I've been feeling great.

So... On the counter three feet from my desk there is a tray of a dozen ooey gooey cinnimon rolls and half a dozen ooey gooey glazed doughnuts and a huge tray of cookies. And I'm not even tempted to have even a single bite.