Defining Determination

Day 5 of Six weeks

Weight today: same

Total lost: two pounds in five days

1/2 cup of oatmeal: 150
1 tsp of sugar:15
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
1/4 cinnamon graham cracker:15
with sweet-n-low:0
total:210

3 oz banana:75
1 tsp of flaxseed oil: 40
vanilla protein shake:110
total:225
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running total:435

2 large eggs:140
1 lefse:30
4 oz of sliced strawberries:36
1 tsp of sugar:15
1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese:30
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
with sweet-n-low:0
total:331
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running total:766

2 1/2 oz banana:57
1 tsp of flax seed oil:40
vanilla protein shake:110
total:200
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running total:966

2 oz of spaghetti (measured dry): 180
1 tsp of Smart Balance Light:15
4 oz of chicken breast: 140
4 oz of tomatoes:16
1/2 tsp of sugar:7
1 tbl of powder creamer with coffee:30
with sweet-n-low: 0
total: 388
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total:1354

Today's challenge: Not snacking, keeping hydrated.

Planned fitness: my abdominal plan twice.

Note on picture: Gourmet Dining brand Chicken Alfredo. 1 1/2 cups:250 calories. I had 7 ounces of sliced tomatoes on the side: 28 with 1 tsp of sugar:15 for a total of:293.

Defining Determination

I was thinking about calling this post "Determination: My Silver Bullet". I love coming up with post titles, there's so many good ones out there.

Remember when I talked about Defining your Dream? Well, determination is the thing that makes your dream come true. There's so many people out there who will try to tell you that all you need is this diet pill, or diet program, or this stay-at-home business plan to make your dreams come true...but the reality is... that you make your dreams come true when you decide in your mind that you're going to do it...and then you find a way to make it happen.

Determination is the difference between finding reasons for why you can't do it versus finding a way to do it. It's looking at a challenge and finding a way to overcome it, instead of letting the challenge overcome you.

I have a perfect example of determination. My friend, who I went to the Liz Logelin walk with, injured her foot a week before the walk. She literally could not walk. But she really wanted to go. She had read almost the entire Matt Logelin blog and wanted to be there. So, she got creative and figured out a way. She rented a wheel chair for $5 bucks a day. Then she had me push her. (I used those big muscles of mine.)

You can't buy determination...
But it's priceless to have.

Determination doesn't let failure get in the way of success. It picks itself back up and gets itself back in the fight. If I have a bad day and overeat on calories, instead of giving up, I try again the next day.

Here's how determination worked in real life for me on this diet.

I wear running shoes that I've been using for over a year. They should have been replaced several months ago, but I'm too cheap to go out and get new ones just yet. But...I still run with them because I'm determined to run.

For those who don't know, I also have a cheap Wal-mart scale that won't give me exact numbers, is hard to see and wavers...but I still manage to lose weight on it because I'm determined to lose weight. A scale doesn't have to work perfectly for me to lose weight.

I have to wear two sports bras that are four years old and I get tired of using them. I put them on and work out anyway because I'm determined to work out.

I used to have a Garmin watch that works, but I don't now...so I work out and run without a watch because I'm determined to work-out.

I used to have a an ipod...but then it stopped working...and I don't feel like getting a new one and spending all that time loading up music, so I work out without music because I'm determined to work out.

When I go to the gym, I have to spend 45 minutes slowly getting four children dressed and ready to take them to the gym, so I can work out...but I do it because I'm determined to work out.

At least three nights a week I make dinner in the afternoon, and put it in the crock pot, so that when I come home from the gym (with all the kids) at 5:45, supper is ready. I plan an prepare ahead of time like this because I'm determined to work out.

When I make food for the family, I usually don't eat it because I have something else planned...but I don't let that bother me or stop me from eating the way I need to eat because I'm determined to eat right so I can lose weight.

These are all things that could stop me from pursuing my goal if I let them. But because I'm determined to make my dream a reality, I find ways to overcome these obstacles.

When you're determined to do something, it's amazing what you can make happen. Determination has always been my silver bullet, and it should be yours too.

Keep trying, keep searching, keep working at finding a way to make it happen...and eventually it will happen.