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One of the early tenants that I wrote about in my weight loss blog last fall was how I was optimizing the meals I was eating at restaurants. For example, I wrote about how I had changed my standard meal at Noodles from 2400 calories down to 390. How I had gone from two bagels down to one. This meal optimization took time and patience. It did not happen overnight.

Regrettably, falling back into old habits does pretty much take over night. It happens fast. So while I had actually reached a point with Bruegger’s where I wasn’t going anymore at all, this week I found myself there twice, and both times I had two bagels, soup and a cookie. Right back to where I was before my diet. I also went to Noodles and instead of just a small bowl of soup I had the large sized noodle dish, with a salad and for dessert a stop at Cold Stone Creamery. It’s like I’m not on a diet anymore.

So, I’m writing this to remind myself how hard I worked to get these bad habits improved and as a reminder for how easy those good habits I worked so hard to develop can sour. It’s not too late to turn it around again, but this time no more slow going – I know I can kick the Bruegger’s habit, for example, and so I am doing it. No more for me.

It’s a start, any way.

When I posted here about my December Doldrums last month I didn’t know the half of it – they would continue for another 3 weeks or so.  I had a tough 6 weeks but I hung in there pretty well.  This week with a 4 pound loss I can finally report a 30+ pound loss since the beginning of my Journey From Fat to Fit back in August.  I got my first unibased compliment, I’ve booked now a 31 pound loss and overall I’m feeling great.  It’s a great start to 2008!

I wish I could share with you the great secret for busting through the plateau I was on but I really can’t.  I didn’t do much differently this week that I’ve done other weeks, and in particular I barely exercised, which is not something I want to get into the habit of.  Rather I think the real key was simply to fight through the thoughts of failure and giving up while on the plateau and just have that patience for when something triggers and your body decides it’s ready to give up a little weight.

For those of you who have recommitted to your own 2008 weight loss journey – good luck, and don’t forget to share your stories.

This sure has been a tough month for me.  And the scary part is the real tough part doesn’t come until next weekend when the Holiday feasts start in hot and heavy.  As I wrote in my update today, I gained a pound this week and am now back to where I started the month of December at.  It’s going to be really hard to hit my goal of losing 6 pounds in December.

How do weight loss studs like 2007 FatBlogger of the Year Tony do it?

One thing I have noticed with Tony is he seems really committed to the cardio.  He’s running over 10 miles a week and he seems to be doing that consistently.  I haven’t run since November 26th.  That’s a problem.

The one thing I have in my favor for getting through this tough month is my blog and my support network, of which all of you play a part.  It would be so easy to just slide back into old habits if I didn’t have my own words to keep me in check.  I can’t believe it is been 3 weeks since I last ran, but by writing about it I keep it in mind and it will be so easier to get back to it before I let the habit slide.  If I wasn’t writing about this stuff I could see how you could easily just give up and revert back to your old ways.

I am committed to not let that happen.

I know I’m not the only one struggling this month.  Let’s stick together and get through this.  Don’t wait until January if you can help it!

PS – I am giving away an Omron Pedometer this week – check out the contest entry for information on how to win.  If you already have a pedometer you should still enter – it would make for a good prize for your own contest.