...and, when we were wrong, we promptly admitted it.

Another weigh-in completed. 228.2#. Same clothes, same scale. No 5K's this week. No one-milers. Just working the program. Being conscientious.

I DO have to confess, however. "Tell on myself," as we say around the Tables. One night this week, I got up inside my head, and binged. I ate after I'd closed my food diary. Went back to the same watering hole: got out of bed, went downstairs and grabbed the newspaper, and ate, almost right out of the refrigerator. I DID, however, have the sense to measure my gluttony, and as soon as Dawn woke up the next day, I spilled the beans. I told her everything. And entered my food consumption into my food diary. Got my "white chip," as it were.

And went RIGHT back to counting my calories again. And walking the malls. Because one slip doesn't spell failure.

So, back into it, we go. Because, as the Tenth Step of Alcoholics Anonymous (and, pretty much every other step-based fellowship of recovery) advises, "...and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it." (More on the Steps, in a bit.)

I was kinda "NPO" for my periodontal cleaning, Friday. I was REALLY "NPO" for my colonoscopy, Monday (TMI? I think not. There's nothing to be afraid of, getting a colonoscopy. Simple, death-defying act, to detect one of the slowest-growing, most easily treated cancers. A cancer that ravaged my Dad for two decades. I did it and I'm glad: even the "suspicious areas" which HAD been evident are now cleared up, thank you, Jesus!) Hence, the following photograph:

Yes; that says "226.1." Meaning a 26.1# loss since September 28th. Clear fluids for 24 hours and purgative medications for the next 12 makes for a light weigh-in. BAM! Total loss for the last two weigh-ins? 6.3#.

Now, rest assured, there have been NO "NPO" holidays for this blogger since the last one. I like food. I like to eat. A LOT. But, again, I've come to realize that what I eat, and when I eat it, are very important factors. Oh, yeah: Performance-enhancing substances don't hurt, either.

That's right. Water. Benefits: hydration, removal of toxins from the body, and beats the hell out of energy drinks and electrolyte replacers, when consumed in conjunction with a proper diet.and other factors. Side effects? Habit-forming. Easy to sneak. Readily available.  And, all in all? I'm NOT hungry at all. At all. As a matter of fact, in discussing my lab work with my VA rheumatologist, she said I've a few indicators that lean toward the "remarkable" end of the spectrum. I SHOULD be suffering from a few more symptoms of the three (yeah, THREE, count 'em) types of arthritis with which I've been diagnosed. But, a plant-based diet appears to have countered those nasties.

Pretty good two weeks, I'd say. I didn't walk as much; but the other day I pulled a 5K practice run at the gym; tonight, I did two miles. Earned enough calories to treat myself to a bowl of popcorn. Did you know that air-popped popcorn is only 31 calories a cup? That means a bowl of popcorn comes in at about 270 calories. Kinda steep for a snack, but, when I've met or exceeded all my nutritional requirements for the day, and STILL have over 700 calories left on my bindle... 270 calories isn't really that bad at all.

*sigh* Life is grand. 
 
That does it for this sitting. It's Monday night; my unofficial weight this morning was 219 and change. Yes, I've broken (again, unofficially) the 220# barrier for the first time in almost 6 years. God is good; I'm inspired, I'm happy, getting more healthy, and feeling good about food choices for the first time in a very long time.

Be well; practice peace, and I'll see you at the next one.