dieting and exercise...sucks!

I'm not going to come on here and tell you I love to workout and eat healthy. It's Monday and I'm in the mood to get a few things off my chest. To put it simply, I hate to diet. I hate having to eat healthy. I hate that I can't sit down and watch a movie and much on Doritos or cookies or pizza. All my favorite foods are B.A.R.F.--Beyond Anne's Reach Forever

What makes it worse is seeing these commercials that promise weight loss if you try their diet or their exercise machine. I swear it seems like I've had the new SlimFast commercial shoved down my throat. I even have the tagline in my head: SlimFast, because who has time to slim slow?

Yes, by all means you should drink a shake for breakfast and lunch, then eat a sensible dinner. That's definitely the way to long term weight loss. *rolls eyes* Then there's the commercial for the BowFlex Treadclimber. Okay, now this is a machine that clearly works. I love the concept of having a stairclimber and treadmill combined into one workout. However, the price will have you choking. At $2,500 you too can be slim and trim and beach ready. Yeah, okay, I've got nearly $3,000 to drop...not!

And if the above isn't enough to make you nuts, you have the diet pills that promise a fabulous new body with one little pill. I love the before and after pictures that come with these commercials. Before, the woman is always wearing something totally shapeless, she's pale, and her hair looks really drab. In the after picture she's tan, has on a gorgeous, flattering outfit and has highlighted, shiny hair. So, one little pill did ALL that, huh? Wow, can't wait to get me some of that!

So, what do I do instead? What's the answer to losing weight and keeping it off? To feeling fit, healthy, having more energy, treating my body like it's a well oiled machine? The answer is different for everyone. For me, I went back to the old method that always seems to be the RIGHT way to go. Eating food that's good for me, eating in moderation, and exercising daily. Also, using weights, building muscle, staying out of the cookie jar, and watching the alcohol consumption doesn't hurt either. A piece of chocolate now and then is even okay, as long that piece isn't the size of a dinner plate. LOL

So, the quesiton...is it working? Yes, but it's sloooow. And the scales don't budge much, if at all. It's enough to have me sitting in a corner and crying, it really is. Oh, I have up days for sure. I do feel like things are coming along nicely. Then I have days where I'm wondering to myself 'why am I doing this?' Where's the payoff?! I see my husband doing the same things as me, but his results are actually showing up on the scales, while mine aren't. And while I tell myself, and my friends, that the number doesn't matter, deep down, I admit, it sorta does. When I look in the mirror I can see changes, but then I can see what still needs work. Logically I can tell myself that this is simple. Eat less, exercise, you burn calories and lose weight. It's not rocket science. But, here it is Monday and I'm just...discouraged.

Where does that leave me? In the words of Joe Dirt, I'm going to keep on keeping on.

The alternative is to give up and I'm too stubborn for that. Just ask my husband. LOL

So, that's my Monday vent. You may now go back to your regularly scheduled programming. :)