So last night was my cognitive behavioural therapy. The lady says I am making progress. Right now I am down 8 pounds and am on a roll. So what is it about this therapy that makes a difference? Well, a lot of things. She is logically stepping me through a good diet and exercise plan. For instance the dialog might be something like this: "So have you been getting your 45 minutes of exercise daily?" "Sometimes, but most of the time I don't have time to do it so I only do it about twice a week." "How about getting up early to do it?" "No, I can't do that, I have always had problems in the morning." "How about doing it at work?" "Well, 45 minutes is too long and I probably wouldn't stick to it." "How about a 15 minute break in the morning and a 15 minute break in the afternoon and 15 minutes in the evening?" "I can do that, but isn't it hot outside?" "Well what about walking the stairs at work?" "Ok. I can do that." "Ok. It's a deal."

So like that the CBT person has negotiated getting exercise with me. The idea is to get me active with something that I can do. So today I am starting walking the stairs at work. I even scheduled it in my outlook calendar as a daily activity. This morning after 15 minutes I was a little sweaty, but I went to the bathroom poured cold water on my face, dried it off and went and sat at my cubby hole with a fan pointed at my head. After about 15 minutes I was back to normal, although I could sense a little drop in blood pressure. Exercise has always lowered my blood pressure. I'd be willing to bet if I exercise alot daily I would eventually not need pills.

She is also getting me to have a morning and afternoon snack of an apple or a lowfat cheese stick and some V8 juice. I told her when I tried that before I just gained weight so she took the cheese out of my morning cheese and bologna sandwich to make up for it. It's all about wheeling and dealing. This might actually work as long as I let it. That is the key. To be completely honest about what I can and can't do and let her push some small changes upon me. She even called Holly yesterday and told her that we need to eat out healthily on the weekends, since I pretty much drop my diet during the weekends. I thought it was humorous but it does make it more serious. As always it really ends up at will power. But with this therapy not as much will power is needed. I think. More tests.