There is an amazing clarity that comes when I can devote my focus singularly to something, like getting fit. I have a specific goal (March tournament) that makes it easy to remember what I'm doing and why. I can be very successful at it over the short term and feel great.

Why don't I stick with it the long term? Folks like John Stone of Johnstonefitness.com or ChickenTuna of bunklers.com do it. What makes them different? I'm not sure.

Also, how I feel while eating clean vs how I feel eating dirty is night and day. I feel like superman when eating clean. The hunger I feel isn't that horrible gotta eat carb-fueled hunger, it's just a barely there minor reminder to go eat something, eventually. I can skip meals often without noticing. One donut tastes OK for a little bit and then I feel awful. Not for cheating, but physically awful. Sluggish. Weak.

Why would I do that to myself over and over? The only conclusion I can come to is the bad stuff actually is addictive.

It's enjoyable, but we know it's bad for us, we feel good temporarily while we use it but the high doesn't last and we then feel bad. We keep seeking it out despite not wanting to.

Sounds like addiction.

Ever try quitting chocolate forever? It must be what alcoholics or smokers feel when they try to quit drinking or smoking. People who aren't addicts can't really sympathize with them, but think about how you would REALLY do giving up junk food forever. It's hard.

But it's good for you. We should all do it. I'm working on figuring how, for me, to accomplish that over the long term. It's not as easy as 'just not picking the stuff up'...or maybe it is.

Perhaps I should look at successful quitters of smoking and drinking to see what lessons I can learn from them...