Update

Yes, we've been neglectful.  We've actually been back onto good eating habits along with continuing our walks for the last few weeks.  My scale broke, but if my pants are an indication, I've lost at least a few little pounds.

Back on track
Things that are hard to get back to resisting: baking (I so LOVE to bake!), putting sauces on food to make them more palatable, and choosing butter OR jam for toast; not both.  In comparing stories, I hear much about how people think they are eating better, but can't lose weight.  One thing I notice on counting calories is they skip counting cream in coffee, butter on toast, etc, etc.  So, this is my official statement to remind people, you must count everything that passes your lips, even if they are hanging on to something else like a little parasite.  Low fat, low calorie dressings still add calories to your salad.  Nuts may contain good fats, but also a lot of calories.  Adding croutons, nuts, raisins, OR bacon bits to a salad can make it more tasty.  Adding all of them makes it a hamburger (from the calorie perspective.)

It's all about choices and when you are confining yourself to a strict diet of difficult choices, it makes other things easier to avoid.  Today I thought I might treat myself to that leftover cupcake from book club last week.  I kept it covered, but took a bite and...it was tasty, but a little dry.  Not delectable so I realized that in my moment of weakness I was about to sell out several hundred calories for that disappointment and I threw it away.  If I'm going to have a goodie, it better be melt in the mouth, taste-bud party delicious.  Otherwise I'll save it for a reliable tasty goodness like my favourite creamer in coffee or a little cheese on my tomato bisque lunch.

Other things: I turned on TV the other day to while away some time while making a Halloween decoration only to be confronted by a certain TV doctor (from over the rainbow?) who I regard highly, but who I do disagree with on rare occasion, touting the evils of artificial sweeteners.  Look, I know they aren't good for you, but I still say if you are trying to lose weight, unless you are the rare breed who can change their life completely overnight and not be tempted by anything, then it's a lesser evil.  In order to make the whole diet thing doable, I, personally, being a human being with thoughts, feelings, temptations, and weak moments, must have one treat a day to get me through.  For me, it's diet soda.  Sure I'd do better if I quit the soda, but that's unrealistic.  Asking someone to be 100% perfect in how they eat and how much the exercise is the unrealistic bit.  For some people, having nutra sweet makes them crave MORE sweets so if that's the case, they shouldn't use this substitute.  No one can do our exact diet because it wouldn't work for someone else.

Anyone who wants to eat healthy must hear the news every day and consider becoming anorexic because it's impossible to make sense of one study after another.  That being said, This TV Dr. mentioned the cancer risks associated with artificial sweeteners and this bothered me.  Just because you've heard something for decades doesn't make it true.  The fact is the one study showing cancer risks to mice in the 70s has been dis-proven hundreds of times.  I lost the article with the exact numbers, but I assure you it was a reputable source.  Besides, artificial sweeteners do not affect diabetes or tooth decay.  (I thought it did, but according to a New York Times article comparing sweeteners, they do not!  Good to know!)

I have some to realize that the knowledge we gain in high school health class is like basic math.  It's find for everyday life, but in order to solve REAL problems (like imbalance, losing weight, gaining weight, making up for allergies, etc) you need to know Calculus Nutrition.  I'm becoming a bit more Algebraic Nutritionist with all my research, but the way I live and eat day to day is more remedial.  I just feel so bombarded with information saying whatever choice you make is the wrong choice.  It's completely overwhelming! Of course, the information they fill our heads with is maintaining perfect nutrition.  If you're off, you'll need to compensate, and if you need to lose weight, well, forget it.  There really is, imo, no way to lose weight and still eat everything you're supposed to eat.  Still, it's better than OVEReating bad fats so I'll only defend the choices to a point.

When you are in a group, especially with women, there will always be that person who has the answer to your problems, too.  If you tell them you are doing everything, they will have the key to why you aren't losing weight.  They can be wrong, but still convinced because it is what worked for them.  There are the ones who convince you it's easy if you just hit the right formula or do this one trick they know.

It does get easier, I'll give them that, but it's not easy.  I repeat, is in not easy.  Not at any point, and especially at the jumping off point.  I think it's the combination of too much BAD information from sources people trust (the news, TV doctors, and uninformed physicians - who act like experts, but let's keep in mind they are required to stay refreshed on their specific specialty and between that, patients, and a personal life are unlikely to become armchair experts in anything else like nutrition), pressure from friends and family, people who make it sound like your social obligation to be thin, and people who make it all sound so easy that sets many people up for failure when it comes to weight loss.  At some point, just close your eyes, point, commit to a plan, and follow it no matter what else you learn along the way.  Of course if you realize you're not eating foods with potassium, you could adjust your diet to include bananas or if you have low iron, it might be good to pile on spinach to the salad or eat more meat, but every time a study pops up or someone tells you you are doing it wrong is not enough reason to quit or sabotage the plan.

Workouts
Last note, a few weeks ago I was told about a webpage <a href="http://www.skimble.com/">Skimble</a>.  It has a great variety of workouts and it's easy to find what you need to focus on.  It is designed as a smart phone app, but for those of us who like our phones stupid, it's still easy enough to navigate and do in front of the computer screen. We walk 7 days a week, but I do my other workouts 2-3 times a week (my goal is 3-4, but I have to be proud of every little accomplishment these days!) and I have found mixing these in keeps it lively.  Not all require equipment, but many do.  It's just another nice resource.