Thoughts: Why is it that some people just can’t handle it when someone they know makes a lasting, permanent switch to a healthy lifestyle? You know–”friends” who tell you that you are “wasting away” and just need to have “one little cookie” when you don’t want one at all.

You’ll also hear them say things like:

• “You are fine! You don’t need to lose any weight!”
• “Are you STILL on that crazy diet?”
• “Going to the gym AGAIN? Why don’t you take a break?”
• “Uh oh…are you sure you can eat that? It doesn’t contain any protein powder you know!”
• “You should just relax and enjoy life!”
• “I’d go crazy if I had to track everything that went into my mouth!”
• “Mmmm…this burger/dessert/candy/etc. is sooo good. Too bad you can’t have any!”
• “Watch out, if you keep lifting weights you’ll wind up looking like a guy.”

Articles I’ve read on “diet sabotage” state a few reasons for this type of response, but these are the three I think are the most prevalent.

• They fear you will change inside as well as outside and leave them behind.
• They resent the amount of attention and time you are focusing on your meals and workouts and want you to return your focus to them.
• Your success makes them feel bad about their own physical condition–like an indirect criticism of their eating habits and lack of exercise–and they want to bring you down to their level again.

Stupid, right?

You’d think that people in general would be happy for you as you make the switch from flabtastic to fit, but the typical human psyche is just not constructed that way. It’s easier to make snide remarks to try to bring you down than it is to get to a gym, change their own diet, or :: gasp :: maybe ask you what you are doing to get that spiffy definition in your arms and legs.

Well, screw those effortlessly thin or “happily” (yeah, right) fluffy lamers and their small, petty attitudes, I say. The decision to transform yourself starts from within and must be continually fueled by that internal drive to be the best that you can be given your genetic make up and efforts. What everybody else might think of your new lifestyle is totally insignificant because they aren’t the ones that have to live in your body day in and day out, from the dreaded swimsuit season through the slinky holiday party dress rounds.

Smile, shrug, chug down your protein shake and plan out your next workout. You are part of an elite minority.

Revel in it.

========
Nutrition (1600-1800 calorie high zigzag day)
1: 3×1 veggie omelette with oatmeal (Strawberry raisin bar)
2: Szechuan beef and rice
3: Chocolate peanut butter banana shake
4: Chocolate peanut butter banana shake with Creastack
5: Oatmeal tuna spinach salad and raisins
6: Cottage cheese and spiced apple

Supplements:
Multivitamin with iron
Calcium 500 + D
1 T. flax seed oil
1/2 t. GNC Creastack

Calories eaten and deficit for yesterday = 1481 / -901 (target -700)
Water: 12 cups
Ratios: 40% carb / 37% protein / 23% fat

========
Workout:
7:30 am LBWO + 160 push-ups
3:00 pm walk (4 mph / 15 minutes)
7:00 pm steady state bike (30 minutes)
7:30 pm stead state run (20 minutes)

========
The Awful Truth:
1. Munched on some “hint of lime” Tostitos last night. Oh well…at least they are all gone now, LOL.

========
Brownie Points:
1. 100% workout attendance since May 31, 2004!
2. Raised weights in squats and deadlifts again today.

========
Short-term Goals:
1. Pick up some low-carb cereal for new cheesecake squares recipe.
2. Bake some cheesecake squares.
3. Make some chocolate cake.
4. Prep oatmeal tuna salads.
5. Test out EQ2 on my laptop, or prepare to buy a new graphics card for the desktop.