The Journey Back: Day 4

 There are no secrets to success. It is

 the result of preparation, hard work,

 and learning from failure. 

~ Colin Powell ~

As today's quote points out, there really is no "secret" to success. I'm no stranger to hard work but I would be lying if I said I don't struggle with learning from failure. I guess maybe learning is a continuous process. I also think I have a hard time accepting failure. I have learned a lot a lot but recent events have reminded me there is still room for improvement. Maybe we are always a work in progress and I'm just expecting too much. Maybe we all fail at times and it's more important how you react and move forward. Too often I let failure be the excuse to give up. I was overweight most of my life so being "thin", as some characterize me, is new and different. Once I reached my goal weight I needed to transition from losing to maintaining and in a stroke of bad timing new challenges at work came up during that critical period. Regardless of the circumstances it was within my power to maintain, lose or gain and through a series of bad decisions I ended up gaining. Lesson learned ? Well, maybe this week ! Who knows what 2022 is going to throw at us !! Today's quote talks about preparation too. I feel like getting back on track the past few days will ensure I stay there as we ring in the New Year !

Today is Day 1092 of Nutrisystem. 160 days since I reached my goal weight. I maintained it for a while but as you know I've gained some weight and I'm working to get it back off, so it's Day 4 of that effort.

Breakfast today had a little bonus ! My package of Nutrisystem pancakes had 3 in it instead of the usual 2 ! I was extra hungry this morning so I went ahead and ate all 3, but I'm including the extra calories. So breakfast today was 225 calorie pancakes with sugar free syrup and an 80 calorie yogurt. Morning snack was a 120 calorie chocolate shake with peanut butter powder. Lunch was the usual 220 calorie pepperoni pizza melt with a chef salad. Afternoon snack was the usual 80 calorie cottage cheese and 90 calorie oatmeal cookies. Dinner was a 260 calorie roasted turkey medallions with roasted veggies and evening snack was a 140 calorie lemon zest cake. Total calories for the day are 1215 thanks to that bonus pancake and I got 80 ounces of water in.

I spent 30 minutes on the treadmill during my lunch hour and another 25 after work, for a total of 55 minutes. This in spite of the fact that I worked until nearly 9 pm so I can start the new year off right ! After such a long break I'm satisfied with that. I'm taking it slightly easy so I don't end up sidelined with an injury AND I'm taking this one day at a time. Consistency and endurance are both a challenge !

2021 is drawing to a close and, just like 2020, I'm glad to see it go ! 2021 was definitely a better year but our lives are far from "normal". We're still living in a protective bubble of uncertainty and there is still too much chaos in this country and the world in general. I'm hoping that predictions of a relative end to the pandemic in 2022 are accurate ! That being said, I can't complain and I'm NOT complaining. My life has been relatively easy despite the pandemic. My job has remained stable, I and my family have our health and we're all doing as best we can to cope. Life is going on and really, that's the way it should be. We're really very lucky and I am so grateful.

Tomorrow is a day off since New Year's falls on a Saturday ! I plan to grocery shop and pick up my new glasses. I thought about a casino day or taking mom out for dinner but with COVID surging out of control (so they say) I think it's best to avoid the crowds right now. On that note, I'm going to take a long hot shower and head for bed !