Since heading on the right track, I have been prognosticating taking care of my physical health needs, rather blaming the need to get my mental health in order for me being heavier than I was. Now that my mental health is in a good spot, I can now focus on my physical health which is equally important.

I am never afraid to admit that the side effects of my psychotropic medications cause appetite and hunger, thus resulting in weight gain. This has been the effect of my weight gain creeping up slowly over 24 years. Once I quit caffeine over a month ago for my mental health and to prevent counteractivity of my mental health medications.  Unfortunately, I only went for soda pop “as long as it was caffeine free” just to hydrate, not thinking about the many options that I have at my disposal.

I know that there are great benefits to drinking water. I hear this continually and I have no problem with drinking water whatsoever.  The issue arises in knowing that I need to just quench my thirst instead of finding something to please my taste buds. As with anything, you must put your mind to doing what is needed to make it a habit. Over the past month, I kicked the caffeine habit for good and know that I can never go back to that. I choose to eat at home often. I plan my meals.  I am doing the right things. This is another habit I need to get engrained in my mind for the best.

Earlier this week, after a long day on the road and even having a meal, after eating a meal and being home for some time, I wanted more food. My focus was driving me away to the computer where I can easily order something to be delivered to my doorstep. Thankfully, I was able to distract myself from it and work on the task that I wanted to work on.

For the last few weeks, I have been blaming the need to get my mental health on track for my weight gain. Yet, I’ve made poor choices in working on it. I recognize it and that is what matters. I started my gym membership back up again and got it settled just before writing this post and know that needs to be a priority in counteracting the weight gain. I also know from my poor food choices that my weight is creeping back up again and by making poor food choices, there are physical effects to my body that are unpleasant. Seeing the weight creep higher and higher has caused me to make a change for the better.

Earlier this year at a monthly workshop that our national weight loss support group hosts on Zoom, there was a gentleman who said that placement of food is key in helping oneself make conscious choices for one’s nourishment. Knowing this that weekend, as I have done many times, I threw and donated bags of food that I had. My mother, also being a member, worked along with me in this effort.

Even with having the gym membership and not transferring it to the workout facility that I am at now back then was after three years of being quite mindless in nature. With the impulse decisions I was making before getting back on the right track, I cancelled the fitness plan, which thankfully was not financially consequential. I now know that going is imperative because I do not want to just waste money as I had done in the past. My physical health is just as important as mental health. There is no health without mental health OR physical health for that matter.

I think this is the continuance of what I have been calling ‘The Perfect Storm’ It is slowly the next thing in the chain of getting my affairs to do what is necessary to get on the right track to overcome the struggles that I have been facing for many years. There is nothing holding me back in life and the possibilities are endless of what is possible for me. As they say, you can do anything if you put your mind to it. This is something that needs to be done for the betterment of my life and for all the right reasons.