Moving the ticker...

... up the scale.

Wrong direction... and yet, I'm not sad or unhappy about it. For once, I decided I wasn't going to move my ticker up for the 2.4 lb. gain (9.6 sticks of butter!). In my head, I know I will lose it again-- however I am all about "owning" my successes as well as my failures... so move the ticker I did.

And why am I not sad or unhappy or discouraged even by this action? Ah... here lies the secret: I made THE CHOICES. I decided to have that one slice of "SparkPeople" Pumpkin Roll... I decided to have the late night baked chips with my kids playing "Catch Phrase". I decided NOT to go on that long walk, rather spending the time playing with the granddaughters on the floor and putting them down for a nap. I decided to go the Belgium restaurant with my children (five of us total, Sarah had to stay home with the girls... we missed her!) and partake of those awesome Belgium Frites... (YUMMY! Do you know how long it's been since I have put a FRIED ANYTHING in my mouth?) and I was the one that decided to have that one, two, and maybe even three glasses of Belgium beer... Pretty good too... I must say, though I am not one to drink beer normally... I'm more a mixed cocktail or wine kind of girl... However, when in Rome....

So... choices. Isn't that what this journey is all about? The choices that we make... Whether they are good ones, or bad ones.. or just a choice for the moment... Living this lifestyle has made me understand that I have the choice... and I can accept the good, the bad... and the ugly 9.6 sticks of butter that is back on this body... And I can do something about those sticks.

A choice is just that... A choice. We don't have to stay in that moment. We can pick ourselves up and begin again... We have the CHOICE.

The one thing I love about SparkPeople is that I can eat what I've always eaten... I can have those mashed potatoes... I can eat my momma's fantastic Chili Spaghetti (updated with ground lean turkey!)... I don't have to change EVERYTHING about my food... I just have to make the CHOICE... to eat less, to eat healthier, exercise more...

And... even though I went up on the ticker... I still fit into my size 16 jeans!

Making the CHOICE to begin this journey... and to make the lifestyle change... has been the BEST CHOICE... I've ever made!