Winning Formula

I've had a rough week since coming back from my work trip. I've been getting up late, not having much energy, and been pretty lazy. One of my trouble spots in the past is that I do really well with a regular schedule of good eating and exercise, then I go on work travel or vacation, then don't get back into a routine. I've been like that this week.

But, I'm still maintaining my weight. I am eating well, at least. I just haven't exactly got back into my routine. However, I'm leaving Wednesday for a vacation, so it's not too bad. I don't know if it's jet lag, change in seasons or both, but I am exhausted and unmotivated.

One of the things I've been struggling with this week is temptations. I don't know if it was being faced with donuts, breads, and pasta at the conference, but this week I've been missing my old staples like rice and potatoes. I've made a number of my signature dishes this week with subs like cauliflower rice, but I've been looking at it with heavy sighs. A number of recipes that look absolutely fabulous I skip because they contain things that I'm avoiding right now. Chicken and rice, beef and potatoes... {heavy sigh}.

What's keeping me on track is that I love how my clothes fit. I love waking up in the morning and I can see changes in my body. My tummy continues to flatten. I can see an hourglass instead of a blocky pear blob. My shorts are too loose - I need a new pair. Shirts that were too tight are loose and comfy.

My exercise is still low to moderate. Just walking or a leisurely bike ride (which I will do after I finish writing this). I really love HIIT - there is just something really energizing about it. There is a type of "high" that I get from it that is really addicting. However, I feel that low to moderate exercise is better for me right now. I get really consistent fat loss results without too many highs or lows.

While I am getting urges for rice and potatoes, I am staying the course. I've got a winning formula right now. I'm still losing weight, and I just don't want to tamper with it. Once I am back to my maintenance goals, I plan to test my tolerances to foods that I am avoiding. Maybe I'll eat a cup of rice or potatoes on my high intensity cardio days.