The Football Fan's Diet: Steelers, standing at an impressive 8-2, pull off A Win — And So Does My Health!

The Steelers pulled off a quirky win this weekend by kicking 6 field goals and scoring no touchdowns against their fierce rivals, the Baltimore Ravens. It's always a nail-biter when these two clash! A great win for the Steelers. As for my health, it was a "sort of" win for me too, even though I didn't quite come out on top.

What I mean is that I returned to my Daily Gameday Objective of tracking calories. On days when I keep my net intake under approximately 2000 calories, I score a touchdown. I succeeded 3 out of 7 days. Although I technically lost the week, there's often a silver lining in defeat. Despite not winning, I managed to lose over 2 lbs. this week.

I attribute my success mainly to winning significantly on the days I did win and minimizing losses on the days I didn't. However, last Tuesday was an exception—I experienced a substantial loss. I think I surpassed the 4,000-calorie mark with all the beer and pizza I consumed. Despite that, I had three excellent days this week, and on the other days, my losses were minimal.

Overall, I may have lost the week, but in many ways, I still came out ahead. This truly makes it a great week because setbacks often serve as opportunities for improvement. By bouncing back stronger after a loss, I feel even more motivated to see what progress a victory can bring.

So here are some tips to keep in mind, when it seems like your health is playing losing football. Do this:

• Don't beat yourself up for one bad day or even a bad week. It's important to acknowledge it and move on instead of dwelling on it.
• Focus on the small victories, like making healthier choices during meals or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. These may seem insignificant, but they add up over time.
• Find a support system, whether it's friends, family, or a health coach. Having someone to hold you accountable and motivate you can make all the difference.
• Set realistic goals and track your progress. This will help keep you motivated and show how far you've come.
• Remember that setbacks are temporary and don't define your overall journey towards better health. 

As for my Steelers, they're facing the Browns on Thursday night, following a short week after their strong performance on Sunday. Let's hope Thursday night's game against the Browns doesn't become a trap game—and fingers crossed I don't have one coming up either.

Are you ready to go the rest of the week? Ready. Break.