Winding down...

With the 100-Day Heart Challenge winding down, I've taken some time to reflect on the progress I've made over the past 75 days (give or take).  In those areas where I can visually see the improvement, I'm encouraged that the areas that I can't see have seen some positive changes as well.

I've also seen myself become somewhat less rigid in my determination--I'm more susceptible to reverting to my old habits if I let myself.  Especially with the soda.  Initially when beginning this 100-Day journey, one of my goals was the complete elimination of soda.  I'd still like to get to that point eventually, but I've found it extremely difficult to do.  I still love the stuff--especially the carbonation burn in the back of my throat.

Still, my current diet when compared to what it was is night and day.  I'll occasionally reward myself with a trip to In-N-Out or Del Taco, but I've found it's only slightly more inconvenient to make something at home that is much healthier--and it usually tastes so good!

Life hasn't gotten any less hectic.  In fact it's probably gotten worse--and will continue to do so for the next few months with me buying a new home and seeing some job assignment changes here at work.  But I've seem myself become less and less likely to react negatively to the stress when it comes to eating.

I'm looking forward to the final results, but I'm anxious about losing the training sessions and the nutrition classes.  What an asset and resource they have been throughout this experience!  Fortunately there are a great many other resources I can tap into.  I find myself hopeful when considering the path my life will take with the new habits I've developed.  I actually think I've convinced my kids that the end of the 100-Day Heart Challenge doesn't mean we'll be eating like we were before it began.

With roughly 25 days 'til the final weigh out, I hope to be able to find there's even more room for improvement and change.

A quote I picked up back when I was on my mission, and I forget who said it, but it went something like this: The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what we want most for what we want at the moment.  I've shortened it some and posted it around my home and office to remind me that those words are very much applicable to what we're trying to accomplish here:

"DON'T SACRIFICE WHAT YOU WANT MOST FOR WHAT YOU WANT AT THE MOMENT"