I'm bored with my regular neighborhood routes so I set out for parts less traveled - which meant crossing highways and that scares me a little.
Two miles from home I felt really strong and very brave when I decided to take a country highway. It was liberating to be so far from home on a road I rarely traveled.
The wind was blowing through my hand-me -down helmet and I felt vigorous and athletic on my 5-speed Huffy. I wasn't paying attention to the fact that most of my journey had been gentle slopes down hill — until I hit the 5-mile mark and turned around to go home.
The ride back home was less exhilarating when my legs started to feel like jello. I felt very foolish when at one hill I had to get off and walk the bike for several yards. For sure I wasn't looking very athletic to the cars whizzing by.
My bike ride today is a lot like my weigh loss effort. I had lost 20 pounds and felt strong and confident that I would continue until I got to my goal weight.
Instead, over the last couple of weeks I've started 'coasting' with my food choices and quantities. One small piece of cake, a hand-full of chips with my sandwich, a piece of garlic toast with my spaghetti... small choices that weren't disastrous by themselves.
Until I hit the 5-pound mark.
I need to turn around and face those slippery slopes I so willingly and freely went down and start the uphill climb — again, and again and again, until I get it in my mind and my heart that I need to pay attention to the choices I make every single time I eat something.
Do I feel foolish? Yes!
Am I defeated? No!
Just like the hills I faced today. They were tough, and it was slow going, but I did it, and the NEXT time I go out, I'll pay more attention to where I'm going and how I'll get back!
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