Motivational Monday - It's Good Enough

Hello!  I'm back and we're back into our normal routines now.  I love that.  *contented sigh*

Vacations are nice.  

Relaxing is nice.  

But there is great truth to the saying "Home Sweet Home".  There's nothing like it and I love being in my normal school-day routines.  Today I've done nothing more than pick up the house, do laundry, go for a nice walk, chat with a friend and I've enjoyed every minute of my day.  

The sun has been shining and the temperature reached the mid to high 70's.  My windows are open and fresh air has been breezing it's way through my home.  

Can you see why I'm feeling so pleasant?  

The pleasant contentedness also comes from having a good talk with my dear friend and weight loss buddy about how it's okay to go back to basics with exercise -- as long as we're still moving. 

The farther along I get in this weight loss journey, and the more I see myself capable of things I never thought I'd be able to do, it's easy to put myself down for not pushing harder each workout.  It's easy to think I've done nothing, or I'm a failure, if I've not put out a solid hour or 45 minutes of hot, sweaty exercise.  

What a lie.

Four years ago (this past week to be exact) I weighed myself at my all time, non-pregnancy high of 232.5 pounds.  I was mortified.  I was forced to acknowledge the pain in my knees was due to putting on another 20 pounds since the previous summer.  I was forced to acknowledge that I was "loving myself" right out of my 20w's.

I felt hopeless.

And I decided I needed to do something, but I refused to start any specific diet out of a fear of failure.  

So, I changed one thing at a time.  Looking back I realized I made two choices.  I would stop one bad habit and I would start one good habit. 

I cut my regular soda drinking down to only at mealtimes, and I started doing walk-at-home DVDs for 30 minutes 3 times a week. 

Was it Biggest Loser style change?  No.  Did I get results?  YES. 

Those small basic decisions lead to more decisions, which lead to more and now here I am lighter and still keeping that weight off.   

Yes, I managed to gain 5 pounds while on vacation last week.  Yes, I was lazy and enjoyed my Grandma's homemade desserts daily.  Yes, I did go for one, small 2-mile run, but well, yes, I slept in and enjoyed lots of time with my family.

And even more than that....

Yes, I came home and made the decision to get back with the program.  I know those five pounds will come off soon enough.  I know I'll go for a run this week and I'll get back into my regular workout schedule again and most of all...

I know it's good enough.  

Happy Monday!  Hope you all have a good week!