Progress Report

So, a week ago, I found out exactly how overweight I was, ran screaming from the room, and discovered that this did not, in fact, count as exercise. Not even if I hurdled the baby gate.

However, I did get real exercise three times last week: walked home from the Metro twice, which was about 40 min. of cardio, and up to the mall once, for about 30 min. of cardio. It's more exercise than I've had in a while, and it didn't drop my numbers one bit. However again, it did seem to keep them from going up, given the several indiscretions of last week, one of which involved an entire foot-long sub and another of which involved a McD's breakfast... so maybe all is not really lost.

After the first week, I can also confirm that the biggest hurdle is not, in fact, the baby gate. It's preparation. Preparation is what makes the difference between eating breakfast at home and at the bagel bakery, or worse yet, at McD's. Preparation is also what makes the difference between packing a few ginger snaps or an apple for those emergency moments, and having those emergency moments turn into nausea and a headache and a $14 binge at the salad bar. Not that there's anything wrong with salad. And, unfortunately, preparation is exactly what I need most when I have the least time and the least money to effect it. No wonder desperation is a cycle.

So, this past weekend, I went to the grocery store and stocked up on essentials. Fresh fruit and veggies, cheeses, good cereal, etc. About $65 worth, which comes out to less than $10 a day, but was still a strain on my tiny little budget. God, will I be SO glad when I start getting regular, full-sized paychecks again... So far, though, it seems to be working. I did end up bageling again this morning, but I've had two fruits, 5 carbs, one meat, and one dairy so far. If I can get a salad and a cup of yogurt in there, I'll be golden. If not... there's always tomorrow.

Note to self: next time, remember the ginger snaps.