OK - I've been lurking long enough! I've popped in a few places just long enough to say, "Hi," but I've decided to start the battle log today. There are many things I am working on changing - and I really like Steve's advice on doing it a little at a time. So here is where I'm at right now: I've already lost several pounds. I started easing my way into cutting WAY back on refined foods a week or two before I found this site, so I may have lost more than I know. I've also cut almost all of the liquid calories. I might have 2 or 3 cups of coffee a week, but everything else is water. As of right now, I'm sitting at 358. I started keeping a log last week. That's 4 pounds down from two weeks ago. Monday is my weigh-in day, so I'll know how much more I lost tomorrow morning. I am a musician and really need to look better on stage. I really need to get out of the day job situation. Mine isn't as bad as many - I like my job. I just don't like using all of my time and energy making other people money. So...off we go back to guitar teaching. I did sign up for a coaching program to help me ramp up my guitar teaching business, and I've been marching through that every day. So...hopefully soon (planning on launching in January) I won't need that day job anymore. Losing the day job is key to getting a ton of other stuff done, because I've got 3 jobs right now and just don't have the time to do anything else. As with most people, I'm sure, I have some debt that just needs to go. All of that is under way with the new guitar lesson program. Also I'm in the process of paying some of those little, nagging monthly bills off so I can redirect more of my money to eliminating the debt. There are several creative pieces that I am working on: a book, an album, a Christmas project, a heavy metal opera (YES!) and a web series. I get bits and pieces done but nothing substantial. To that end I've started working on a new website and am changing my web host to one that has more features and less cost. So, there has been some progress. My main problem is the dreaded "helper." You know the ones...they say they're behind you but they're really not. They keep trying to push you toward what they think you should do or worse yet, what they THINK they should do. And none of their ideas work for me. The hardest thing to deal with is the constant nay-saying. The "You'd better watch out!" or "Be careful that..." I know they think they are being helpful, but they're not. And they never see themselves as negative. I'm not saying I don't need to be reminded of a pitfall here or there that I may not have thought of, but dammit, people, the sky doesn't fall every time you try to change a habit. Wow...that was long winded. I'd been thinking of rattling that off for quite a while... Thanks for reading!
