Determined To Succeed

Good morning, my friends. And what a chilly morning it is.

Living in southern New Jersey the temperatures here are a bit warmer than they are in Chicago (my awesome hometown). That is due to the more temperate weather conditions brought on by the ocean, as opposed to the frigid temperatures in the Midwest brought down from the arctic (think THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW but with now big weather cyclone of death).

Anyway, while no where near as cold here as it is at home it’s pretty nippy. The wind chill factor will make it feel like the high teens or early twenties today which is enough to make anyone think twice about braving the cold to get a workout in.

But I’m here to tell you not to let the cold stop you. Cold is one thing and being cold is another, but seeing that number on your electronic scale drop lower and lower is an amazing thing and brings you a warmth no matter what time of year.

Here we are in the throes of winter – the perfect time to kick your feet up, get a good book and cozy up on the couch staying warm. Sometimes the hardest thing to do is what we don’t want to do especially working out.

You’ve heard me say before, there’s a quote in the “Star Wars” movies for everything. This is no exception. In “The Empire Strikes Back,” Luke is preparing to face Darth Vader with only minimal training as a Jedi Knight. Obi Wan, his mentor and friend, warns Luke that while he can feel the Force he can’t control it, saying to Luke, ”This is a dangerous time for you, when you will be tempted by the Dark Side of the Force.”

He couldn’t be more right.

This is the time of year when we are not only tempted to stay indoors and keep warm but attend holiday parties and functions filled with the intoxicating smells of the tasty catered hors devours – delicious warm mini quiches, pasta buffets, sample platters, hoagies, pigs in blankets, bread and cheese trays, dips, chips, salsas and more.  My mouth’s watering just thinking and writing about it all.

No matter the temperature outside or the time of year and all the parties it brings, it’s up to each of us to control what we eat and to remain committed to exercise. Just because it’s cold outside doesn’t mean we should slack off and wait until it’s warmer to get reacquainted with our exercise routines.

I’m human, just like you. I like watching a great flick on my couch and hunkering down all warm, but this weight loss journey is a constant thing we’re doing no matter how frightful the weather is outside our windows. There are consequences to what we eat and how much (or how little) we exercise. For me, eating better and exercising is a part of my every day if I want toget back to and stay at 225lbs.

And what continues to motivate me – the pride of my mom, friends and loved ones as well as my goal to have a 36-inch waist instead of the 58-inch waist I used to have – will help me live a hopefully long and healthier life so that I can enjoy, every now and then, the warmth of my couch and a cup of nice hot chocolate.

Until then, time to bundle up and head to the gym. That elliptical is waiting…