I have been trying for quite some time to lose weight. My pattern is predictable: lose a little, gain a little; lose a lot, gain a lot. Over and over and over again. It is easy (at least for me) to lose perspective on something like weight loss. It sometimes seems so futile. Afterall, we have to eat, don't we???

When I was still smoking cigarettes and trying desparately to quit I remember someone telling me that each time you quit and then start again you are just practicing for when you finally quit for good. Well, I practiced many, many times before I finally quit. I realized just before I finally quit for good that my attitude played a very important part in the process. When I really believed I could do it, I did. All of the "practice" helped to bring about the realization that I was able to complete something I had started many times. Even though it was very, very difficult.

And so, with weight loss, I'm trying to believe these little episodes of losing and gaining are just practice for when I finally lose all the weight I need to lose. At least I hope so...