So I can continue blogging about what is preventing me and making excuses or I can get shit done. This has been my problem for a long time – grandiose plans that just by virtue of having made them, I feel like I have already accomplished the goal.

I think you do have to be ready to commit and follow through – maybe in the back of my head I thought I could get ahead of the retirement date and already be smooth sailing into August – however it has been very hectic retiring including trips etc that were planned for the summer. But the time is now and I will start to break down my goals into smaller daily ones and stay on the track of one pound a week as it isn’t a hard challenge at all – I just can’t self sabotage and just get it done and enjoy the process of what works to do so.

I have this basically four week window ahead of me now to get some traction – I am headed on a 3 week canoe trip that requires both a lot of physical activity during the day and limited eating – based on what is being served by the company with little room for snacks – and limited alcohol – based on what you feel like carrying on your portage and I don’t feel like carrying alot. While I am not in control of the food made I am in control of how much I eat and drink – and think being in the wide open up north under the stars will hopefully challenge me to start a new habit of 0-1 drinks a night forever. That’s where I want to get to – and get on that 1% cumulative change curve

Sometimes I question whether that’s what I really want – I know it isn’t entirely as I enjoy drinking in the evening but the cumulative health effect to date on my weight and blood pressure is enough to convince me I have to stop anyway knowing that I am cutting out a part of my life that has sustained me through my working years. I also need new nighttime habits so the pull of the couch and tv don’t throw me off track given food and drink usually accompanies that.

My daily goals will be under the following categories:

1. Food plan for today
2. Physical activity for today
3. Non alcoholic drink of choice for the evening including non alcoholic mocktails
4. One affirmation for the day that will keep me focused on what I intend to do.

I will focus specifically on what I am getting done today and let the scale take care of itself

Today for food – I am just getting back from camping and do not have a ton in my fridge. I will have eggs and toast this am but need the afternoon to plan for meals this week leading into my vacation and clearing out my shelves for when I return. My plan will include a frozen meal that I can pop on the oven for when I arrive back home.

Today for physical activity I will do an hour of Body Pump

Today for non alcoholic drink of choice I have non alcoholic wine up north – will have that tonight instead of any alcohol.

My affirmation today is that I am lucky to have these choices and I can choose which 1% path of change I am on – to cumulative success or cumulative failure as I see it.