Well its been about 30 days since I last posted and I am back with a further enlightenment on my journey.
If I could just miss-quote Mr Micawber's famous, and oft-quoted, recipe for happiness:
"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen [pounds] nineteen [shillings] and six [pence], result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."
Daily allowance of calories 1200, daily consumption 1190 result happiness. Daily allowance of calories 1200, daily consumption 1210 , result weight gain.
The last month has had its up and downs. One of the downs but one that has taught me a valuable lesson in how I think and I suspect how others think, happened two weeks ago.
We dont go out often but we both like real ale and Mr Wetherspoons does a very good steak and has a very palatable barrel of Abbot ale.
After keeping track of my calories I had 500 cals for my evening meal. A substantial amount but not if husband then wants to go for steak and beer, if I'm honest once suggested so did I.
Ho Hum I thought, 'I will have steak and ale and "make it up or down" later in the week'.
So as the designated driver I only had 1/4 pt and I cut my steak in half and up it in my plastic box for later in the week.
The rest of the week was pure hell and I never did save those calories from other days.
Weak willed?
I think not.
I think its to do with how our brain works.
Because I had already had the reward there was nothing to work towards and I just couldn't do it no matter how hard I tried it just kept slipping from my grasp and I felt deprived, frustrated and angry with myself, but when I 'saved' the calories for the evening out, which I usually did, it was easy.
I believe that this also applies to other aspects of our lives such as money, it's easier to save up for something than to have it then try to pay it back.
Always work towards a reward.
So how have I done?
Well I have now lost 8lb since I started, about 1lb a week, and I have broken through the 11st floor which I always seemed to fail at which may not sound meteoric but by Mr Macorbers philosophy... is pure happiness!
