I put this picture here just to break up the monotony of my boring blog. I seem to only have time to put the steps in these days! Well, how have I really been doing on this journey? I've had "setbacks". When I gained a few pounds I told Tyler I mostly feel bad because I already told my blog that I lost 5 pounds! He wisely replied

"Isn't that what your blog is all about, being honest about what this struggle is REALLY like?"

So.... right around DAY 20 I gained a few pounds back. I basically quit doing the "program" and ate too much. I did not plan on what I would eat. I am proud of myself for realizing this is a process and forgiving myself and getting back to planning what to eat. I listen to The Beck Diet on CD. It helps me to realize as i listen to this lady on the cd tell me about her life commitment to this and to all her experience in counseling hundreds of overweight people , that there are thin people all over who limit what they eat all the time...for the rest of their lives. I like imagining myself in the future (Not too distant cuz i only have 8 pounds to lose to get to my healthy goal wt) just living out my days as a thin person who still does this program! This is a different thought than the solutions I used to go after. I would throw myself into something with the thought that this is the answer to how this is gonna be EASY. No more work!! That is the biggest lie. It will always be work. I choose to take this one day at a time trusting God to strengthen me to live and eat in a purposeful way that pleases Him. It is for Him and for the purpose of living a glorifying life of service to Him. Knowing that this is long term helps me to keep going and not quit when I blow it. Blowing it is part of the journey.