Tiny Glow

Today I biked to work—it’s something I try to do twice a week as part of my fitness routine. It was strange with all the daylight brightening up the world at 7 AM; I’d become used to pedaling to the office in the dark. I guess that will be the fate of my evening commute before too long—before we know it, the sky will be darkening at 5 PM! I’m prepared with my trusty front and rear bike lights, not to fear.

Yesterday I felt decidedly blah, in part because my face hurt like hell for no particular reason . . . apparently I had an allergic reaction to something—I have pretty sensitive skin. I sat around the house all day feeling hyper-aware of my stinging skin, holding an ice pack to it to take the edge off the discomfort. Despite being grumpy and irritated about my face, I didn’t particularly feel like overeating or going off-plan. It’s nice that little annoying things like a blotchy face don’t have me immediately reaching for the sweets the way they would have a month or two ago.

Halloween passed as barely a blip on the radar, and I felt pretty serene about that. I don’t know why, but the candy that goes along with that day didn’t have as big a pull on me this year; in fact, I didn’t eat a single piece of fun-size (or full-size) anything this year. I could have planned for it in my calorie budget, but it just didn’t seem that important. I’ll be treating Thanksgiving and Christmas Days differently, as I’ve already mentioned, but Halloween just didn’t seem as food-special to me.

I would love to be in the low-180s by the end of November (tomorrow is my first weigh-in day of the month). I am tired of being so heavy. Plus I know I can do this, I’ve proven it to myself during the last month and a half. There is no reason for me to live an obese life any longer.

Sometimes I wonder if getting thinner will provoke changes in other areas of my life—career or social activities for instance. I really don’t know, but I guess I’ll just have to have courage and find out.