This is my new motto for eating. And I think it is going
to work really well, if I am guessing.
Also: “It’s what you do eat..and not what you don’t eat..that
matters”.
You see for the last 2 weeks I have done things very very
differently with food with minimal effort. And this is the first time in my
life I seem to have the motivation, or willingness, or want, or commitment to
make long term eating changes. Weird eh?
I think it has to do mostly with much more space in my
brain freed up largely in not having to worry continuously about people around
me. I think it is that cliché of “when you let go of controlling others….you
free up time for you”. I never ever thought
what I would actually choose to do with this time would be to eat low fat
cheese and drink protein drinks.
It all started on vacation at the cottage these years with the horrible
weather (that seems like it has never stopped since actaully) and it was three
weeks of our usual crazy holiday eating. But something inside of me snapped this
year and thought “this is ridiculous. “This is not making me feel good at all” And taking a three week break from exercise (besides
kayaking often 1.5 hrs. often per day) is not enough either. My goal moved from
diet and exercise from wanting to look good…to
wanting to feel good (which has been
more of a struggle for me lately). I think in our 40’s our priorities shift and
health more than anything becomes the coveted thing.
And then and there I just made some space in my brain it
seems for healthy eating. Right on the spot. And when I got home from
vacation-did a lot of research..got some 1-1 phone coaching with an expert..And went out and
bought a whole lot of products with protein and fibre in them. Too simple to be
true eh? But that is the type of person I am..when I decide something..I just do it.
The question is what is a girl like me, very fashion concious,
likes to look good, educated, gaining weight year to year slowly but surely, flirty
enough and in need of changing my diet never did this before???
The answer to be honest was: indulgence, not liking
depriving myself, feeling like I had no space in my brain for this, feeling
like I deserved to eat treats, lazy, and also just always feeling like if I am
honest (which I always am on this blog) that could get away with some extra
weight because I have a curvy voluptuous body that has always someone been
somewhat admired by men (well maybe not as much over the last few years) but before that. I also seem
to have the type of body and overall looks that weight is never been a big issue.
Even if I could stand to lose some for sure. Have always had many compliments
about my hair, face, clothes and body (well not as much in last few years)…that
quite frankly….I think I just got super lazy and took this a bit for granted. I
got used to being called “pretty ” and just kind of forgot about the upkeep. “Pretty Enough” became good enough for me
over the years somehow.
Well that ended for me this summer. I decided that was
stupid and ridiculous and also took a really good look in the mirror and
decided to make some changes.
And believe it or not I can honestly say I have not once
have I deprived myself of food since I have been married, not really once have
I been on a diet besides a few days here
and there to lose some vacation week that never last more than a week. Not once did I not decline a resto, or not
order exactly what I wanted, or not take
something yummy someone offered me.
(It’s
a miracle I don’t look like a horse at this point actually).
But to be fair I am not much of a snacker or dinner eater
which helps. Lunch is my thing . And weekend/holiday eating (a lot ). I
naturally don’t turn towards food for binging or eating large amounts. But my
choices are often poor..And indulgent. I began starting to piss myself of after
years of this.
So two weeks ago I changed. Will it stick? I think so for
some bizarre reason. Will I lose weight? I actually have no idea…and although it
would be a great perk-is not my overall goal or motivation which is much easier
for me psychologically to make these changes because of that fact.
I want to feel good and I have realized that what I put
into my mouth is a direct result of getting that feeling in some ways. And have realized
it is all about what you do eat and not what you don’t eat. The more protein
and fibre you eat the better..even though you feel full and as if “how could
you actually eat all that in a day”. And bring on the carbs and starches..never
ever will I say good bye to those. Or cut down considerably. Would not be able
to enjoy life or exist. So I eat it all-and by the very nature of more protein and
fibre especially early in day…I naturally eat less of other stuff it seems so
far.
And I do until I don’t? This means…that my core and
regular life will be trying to stick to this regimen. The normal days will be
about this healthy balance. But when I don’t stick to it…which will happen plenty:
That is fine too. Because like anything else it is what we may do about 75
percent of the time that matters the most. (A future book if I am successful so
don’t steal the lingo pls!) It’s a motto that really works for my psychological
well-being.
Trust me at my fave restaurents etc and when company etc
I will be eating what I want. Life is too short. But in between? Big changes
are happening.
And all of this started the day I went back to work from
vacations. And after 42 years of what I consider indulgence of food, . I said no to a cupcake. For the very
first time in my life. And I began this new journey and lifestyle.
And after Sept 1, I will commit to exercise or to move my
body every single day of my life for 30
minutes forever. Not 3 days a week or 5. Everyday. Who knows what will
happen with that…but for me rules are
the way to go and have always been successful of living life.
It’s as simple as “just stop it” or “just start it” when
you want to stop/start something. I truly utterly believe this. Another book of
mine will be called “Just stop it!”
(Like the various people in the news the last few months
asked to just to simply stop behaviors that were causing trouble. The woman who
stopped on the highway for a family of ducks, or the woman who‘s sitter called social
services on her as she was secretly breastfeeding her 7 yr. old son for comfort
at lunchtime at the school when he would fail a test, or the man who was
driving his car and his daughter in just underwear and got stopped for a
ticket. All of them very questionable behaviors that left the policy/social service nothing left to say but simply:
“Just stop it” Right now.
Simple as that.
Stop.
Sometimes in life we just have to put an end to unhealthy
behaviors that for some reason somewhere along the way have not been able to be
a priority. We have to say no to the cupcake (until we say yes to them) or say
yes to moving our body daily (until we say no)
And just like today when it is literally as cold as
winter and pouring buckets of cold rain on our heads, when I am bitchy and my husband
is depressed for no real given reason…we know the when things like this occur
and days like this happen:
It is always to go to the cottage..and connect. Be the
five of us. Connect. Connect. Connect . and Connect.
It seems to be the only real cure. No matter how cold and
rainy it is..or far away..or inconvenient…or seemingly ridiculous. Or that
makes no sense given that in less than 24 hrs our son has to be back home for a
date. Just get up and go connect.
Connecting is what to do-when you are not connecting at
all.
Success is in rules of life.
Just like eating protein and fibre is good for us and makes
us feel better.
