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We fell off "the wagon."

Actually, we held hands and jumped off. We still ate reasonably, but no counting calories. Scott went for short walks, I...did what I could, working up to longer walks. This means we gained a few pounds over the last few weeks.

Everyone is surprised I didn't lose weight after surgery. I think that's only for people who spend the first two weeks in hospital, but with this modern age of "drive-thru surgery" as I've heard it termed, we spend more time recuperating at home where lovely friends and family help out by bringing delicious foods. Meanwhile, there's too much pain in discomfort to walk the miles a day I did before. Of course I gained weight. I know some people can keep weight off just by walking a little. We all know people who can keep weight off by eating reasonably even if they don't exercise much. If that worked for me, this diet and activity regimen we are on wouldn't be necessary.

Getting back on the bandwagon can be difficult, too. I don't know why. Every day starts out great, but by end of day, I'm famished and craving things I haven't even craved for a long time. Still, the exercise part has been easy to re-commit to. In fact, this week I walked one mile in the morning and another in the evening. Doing two miles at once would probably be hard on me, but splitting it up means I get a good workout every day without too much discomfort. I'm not quite up to our old speed, but I'm close. Now I've lost all but two of the pounds I put on while I was laid up. It's definitely time to start eating better in the evenings. Even eating a couple things I know I shouldn't each day, I'm still under 2,000 calories (except one or two days where I went to an event and threw caution to the wind) so with exercise it goes to show your body does learn to adjust.

Meanwhile, I've noticed a few things.
1) The three step program. Several commercials, ad campaigns, and books advertise that losing weight is a three step program. Eat right. Exercise. Buy My Product.

I mentioned this to Scott saying it's actually a two step program of eating better and being more active. The whole point I'm trying to make with this blog and with life is that it doesn't take money to do everything. Spending money on a program might make certain people commit to a program, but if you are truly ready in mind and spirit, spending money doesn't have to enter into it. Walking, hiking, borrowing friends' exercise equipment (everyone knows someone with a neglected treadmill!) costs less than a gym membership. Taking the time to figure out what and when to eat costs less than weight watchers. Yes, it's more work and in this busy world, we have to make time for it, but for some, just doing the work makes it enough to commit.

Well, having decided that it was a two step program, Scott and I we saw a billboard with syndicated characters (I want to say Mickey Mouse and friends, but I can't recall for sure now) who had the ultimate three step version which I would gladly endorse.

Eat healthy. Be Active. Have Fun.

Don't forget that last step! It is certainly the most important.

2) Several self-help health "gurus" are really bothering me. The new comment making its rounds is that overeating is immature. They talk about how giving in to a craving is childish and tell people to "grow up".

Of course, I hate it because they are attacking me so I automatically want to disagree, but I do have an argument against their propaganda that I think is fairly sound.

All animals eat. If you put a dish of cat food and a can of tuna in front of a cat, what are they going to eat? The cat food is healthier for them, but we all know they'll gorge on tuna. It's base animal need to eat and it's basic animal instinct to eat what tastes good. This isn't about maturity unless you are going to say a woman desiring sex when she's ovulating is also immature.

What's immature, really, is thinking that we are so important that we have to answer our cell phone calls as soon as they come in - no matter what we are doing. To me, maturity is demonstrated when a person understands and accepts consequences for their actions. Believing you can talk on a cell phone whilst driving and still give 100% to both is ignoring the fact that there could be consequences for your actions. Dismissing a person's human struggles by calling them childish and immature is a bit of a bullying tactic.

The latest "guru" I heard using this tactic was a motivational speaker pushing his book on the news. This isn't news, kids. This is a guy who has worked to make money without working by persuading and probably bullying people into thinking they are stupid if they don't agree with him. Of course, my experience with motivational speakers so far is that you take a dash of charisma, a modicum of logic, and a lot of useless words to convince people you are right when, if you are smart enough (and MATURE enough) to see the bigger picture, you realize their logic is flawed, their charisma is fake, and their words contradict each other as much as they try to hide reality. It is also my opinion that 90% of self-help books are just mass market motivational speaking. "If I write a book with my 'hook' (a line that is useless and nonsensical, but sounds good and is often catchy so people remember it even if it's lame. The Secret springs to mind...) I can reach millions with my garbage and even if it is garbage, I'm $1,000,000 richer so who cares?" They don't care about your health and well being. They care about their money. It's a get rich quick scheme that is sadly working the world over because people need an answer. The want it to be easy and quick so badly that they will pay anything for it.

It's hard to believe that it really is just as easy as eating better and exercising more. I know that. For years I couldn't figure that out because I ate somewhat healthy and exercised some. It just wasn't enough. If it's not working, eat even healthier (cut more calories or substitute more carbohydrate-high foods for broccoli and protein) and exercise even more (find more activities to do or get heart rate a bit higher). Of course, this is still just my opinion. If you listen to it without question, then I'll become one of those loathe-some motivational speakers...