4/22 Farewell to Fat and other useless rituals

Today was my first of 7 days off work that I've targeted as a chance to jumpstart my health.

I was able to get a great night's sleep and spent most of the day relaxing at home. My food choices were ok, not great but ok. I continue to procrastinate on the food diary for reasons I can't explain, but I stayed out of restaurants today. The food diary will start tomorrow or my self-imposed consequence will be to post the inadvertent shot of my gut my daughter took on photo day. It's less than flattering...

I made it to the Y for 32 minutes on the elliptical, but skipped the cybex because I needed to get my daughter after her log rolling class (there's a phrase you don't hear every day). I might do some weights and push-up/sit up stuff later at home, but we'll see. My exercise goal for tomorrow is to go work out in the pool after Anne returns from work. Rain is preventing my dog walk, so it's a mediocre work out day.
I am off work Monday, so I signed up for Spinning class, I'm looking forward to that.

I did complete the body measurements suggested by Danni, my trainer. They are as follows:
- Chest: 43 inches
- Waist: (at belly button) - 40.5 in. (that one hurt to type)
- Hips: 38 in.
- Biceps: L- 14.125 in. R- 14.25 in
- Thighs: L- 23.5 in. R- 23.5 in.
- Calves: L- 15.75 in. R- 15.5 in.

I will remeasure and update these on May 22nd.

The title of today's entry Farewell to Fat has to do with a stupid thing I've done forever to justify overeating or eating unhealthy food. Whenever I establish that I'll "get serious" about health tomorrow, or on Monday, or on the first of the month, or on New Year's or whatever, I often let myself indulge in garbage food. I have often described this as my Farewell to Fat:) I've had so many farewells it's a running joke in my house. My wife and children know that if a T-Jo's pizza is on the way, they can ask "Farewell to Fat Dad?" and the answer is invariably yes.

Bad as that may be, the "farewell" mentality creeps in much more often in subtle but nasty ways. I cannot explain how many times in the last 10 years (I'll bet in the hundreds), I've been on my way to McDonald's or a Chinese Buffet for a ridiculous lunch and in my head, I'm explaining to myself that it's ok because starting tomorrow I'll get serious. I even tell myself to enjoy that meal, since I am saying good bye to McDonald's forever. Considering I was there three days ago, I'm not sure I've ended that relationship effectively:)

I wonder what other routines and rationalizations people use as an excuse to eat what they want, when then they want. Feel free to share any you'd like...

Happy Health and farewell...