What I Learned in Year One Part 5

I am not perfect.

This was the biggest shock of all! I was so determined last August, I was so dedicated to sticking to a budget and a diet and I wrote everything down and I worked out every day, but I stumbled, a lot.

I figured out this year that life gets in the way of our plans. I knew this, of course, but it is more apparent when you are so focused on those plans.

I try not to beat myself up about my imperfections, some of them are kind of charming, but I am also trying to not blow them off and learn from them. I have found patterns in my imperfections (my penchant for cheating on my diet on Wednesday night for example) and am trying to mitigate the damage (planning a healthier splurge for Wednesday).

I don't imagine I will get any more perfect in year 2, I just hope when my imperfections show themselves they are adorable and quirky.

What I Learned in Year One Part 4

I have to work out, no excuses.

As soon as I get busy the gym is the first thing that gets chopped from the schedule. I try to reason with myself that I will eat fewer calories to compensate, but I am certain my body does not work that way.

I know it is simple calories in vs. calories out and that we should be able to lose weight simply by cutting calories, but when I stop working out I stop losing weight.

Also, I find that when I work out I eat better overall. It is a truly symbiotic relationship for me. I am jealous of those who can just cut a few calories and drop a few pounds or who can work out and eat whatever they want. I am not one of those people.

It may be that I am getting old and my natural metabolism is stagnating, but I must find a way to get to the gym at least 4 times a week.