Amen on loving the game

So I just did 2/3 of my workout faster than I've ever done before. I'm a little puddle of sweat, the endorphins are doing the Snoopy dance in my head, and I'm wanting to ditto Jodi's vote for another 8 weeks. This has been a massive blessing for me, and here are just a few of the things I've learned in the last 5 1/2 weeks:

1. I really, really do love to sweat. Not so much at the outset. As one of my 11-year-old piano students once said about practicing his piano ever day: "Starting's the hardest." But there's nothing like it. Nothing. It is truly the prozac / zoloft / xantax (insert your mood altering drug of choice here) that it takes you at least 30 minutes to swallow. I love exercise. I love how I feel, THE REST OF THE DAY. I love who I am, in my head, the peace that comes when I push myself - do battle against my lazy ol' sorry self - and win.

2. I still really, really like sugar. But, it tastes SO much better, just once in a while. There's a calm in my head because I'm not constantly on the sugar buzz or crash. It's almost been like a detox. I really look forward to the occasional treats provided in the rules of the game. There's something calming about taking note of something that sounds delicious on a non-free day, not indulging in it, and then planning for it appropriately. Thanksgiving dinner would not be the treat it is if we had it once or twice a week all year. Same deal.

3. I love the way it feels to eat until I'm not hungry any more, rather than eat till I'm full. Not only do I feel better physically, but emotionally - it's so much more peaceful somehow.

There's that word again - peace. There is a peace in being in control - of myself. This planet is so crazed and out of control - is it possible that it's because we've all forgotten to start with controlling - ultimately - the only thing an individual can control - himself? My life has been just as insane as everybody else's the past 5 weeks. I was sick as can be, coughing like the last days of emphysema, and yet I exercised every day, ate healthy, drank and drank and drank (and, consequentially, well, you know), and haven't cheated. And here it comes again - I have felt LESS stressed - peaceful! - than I usually do when life is spinning along nearly out of control. Because I've been in control - of the only thing I can control - myself - in the middle of it, it's like I've created a little eye of the storm for myself, and I can manage the storm a little better.

I absolutely vote for eight more weeks. I want to live this way for the rest of my life. Why only live correct principles for a few weeks at a time? But I agree with Jodi - I want to have these habits more secure - for life. Sign me up!