A Higher Standard

I love food.  It's just a fact.  I also love baking.  Growing up, I baked cookies once in a while but now that I'm married & living in my own space, I seem to have an urge to bake way more often.  Not just cookies but eclairs or chocolate souffles or cookie salad, etc.  For a while after Sofia was born I felt like it was an almost all-consuming thing.  It was really frustrating because I felt like it was a really hard struggle to not eat sweets/ice cream, etc. all the time.  Fortunately, that intense kind of craving has subsided but I still struggle with trying to work out, eat right, spend time with my family, as well as the miriad of other things I have going on in my life.  For a little while about 2 months ago I decided to "give myself a break" & not worry about working out so much & just do it when I "had time".  I quickly realized that that wasn't really working for me.  A few weeks ago I'd got up to about 7 lbs heavier than the lowest point I'd gotten after having Sofia.  I realized that if I kept going with "giving myself a break" I could easily end up at the point where I was before having Steven.  I did not want that!  I made a new goal: 10 lbs by my birthday (November 22nd...feel free to buy my presents! ;) ).  I still don't know if I'll make that goal but I've realized something in the process.  I don't really ever remember a time when I'd set a weight loss goal & actually met it when I had planned to.  The only time I've had a lot of success when it comes to weight loss is after I've had my kids, & that wasn't because of anything I had done.  I also realized that that trend carried on into other parts of my life as well.  There are a lot of things (especially big plans) that I've said I was going to do but never did or finished.  I also started thinking about how awesome it would feel to complete a goal I'd set for myself by the time I wanted to finish by.  I really need to hold myself to a higher standard.  I shouldn't say I'm going to do something unless I'm actually going to do it.  With that being said, I don't know that I will realisticially be able to lose the 10 lbs total I had wanted to by my birthday but I am going to try my hardest!  (I still have 7 more lbs in 3 weeks... :-/ )  Yes, it's definitely hard to resist the urge to bake & eat lots of yummy food, especially around the Holidays.  And yes, it is hard to find the time to work out.  But I can definitely tell a difference in my mood & attitude when I work out & when I don't.  I really only have time to work out early in the morning (except on the weekends).  I've started to feel lazy if I sleep in until 6 or 6:30, let alone 7!  I especially love being able to work out on the treadmill.  I've taken to reading a good book while I work out & it makes it even that much more enjoyable.  The workout room in our complex is fairly nice & I've never seen anyone else in there, which makes it nice & quiet.  I just wish the hours weren't so lame...it's only open from 2-7 pm.  Anyway, I'm trying to do better & am very determined to do better with my goals!