Bye Bye Mississippi Mud Pie

I don’t know how it happened. Alright, I have an idea of what happened. I just don’t know how I could have ignored it for so long. Like the 500 lb gorilla in the corner that no one acknowledges, my weight has suddenly become an issue for me. It’s not that I’ve become morbidly obese or that anyone would even consider me to be fat (thank God I’m tall!). It’s just that I spent all winter in bulky sweaters and sweats and when I exchanged them for a T-shirt and jeans, I got a clear and hard look at myself. My chest has grown from what feels like oranges to cantaloupes, my once flat tummy is soft and “poochy”, and my sprinters thighs have gone from smooth to curdled. I can blame part of it on irregular eating and sleeping habits, but the lion’s share has to go to the poor food choices I’ve been making since I started working. I’m hungry every morning at 3:00 am, and despite knowing this, I prepare nothing to bring with me. Instead, I’ll either let my stomach gripe me or I’ll swing by the break room and choose a salty bag of chips and sugary soda from the vending machines. Not exactly the breakfast of champions, but I reasoned that “food is food and I need to fuel my body.” I guess I can categorize it as fuel since eating that stuff made me so gassy! Perhaps it’s that I’m aging but my body is rebelling against foods that I’ve long taken comfort in. Lord knows I can’t live with the gas, so I’ll have to live without many of those foods.

So what to do? A diet is the obvious answer and even though they are more fun than a root canal, it is a necessary evil if I want to a) stop treating junk as a food group, b) regulate my eating and c) lose the excess weight. The diet I’ve chosen is by Dr. Ian K. Smith and I chose it for two reasons. The first, he’s a brother and I want to throw my support his way. Secondly, his diet works. He’s not promising 20 lbs in two weeks, but he is promising to help you boost the health quotient and change your eating habits to lose weight and maintain the loss. I plan to do one cycle (three weeks) and decide from there if I need maintenance or further weight loss. My secret weapon in this battle of the Bulge is a little unorthodox. I’ll be utilizing my Nintendo DS and the My Weight Loss Coach “game”. The cartridge comes with a pedometer and helps you track the foods you eat and the exercises you do. Keeping a journal (even one disguised as an electronic game) is an important tool in any journey of change, and I’m excited to use this one to my advantage.

My biggest challenges will be separate food prep for myself and my family, as well as making time in my schedule for exercise without stealing time away from my kids and hubby. I’m fortunate enough that my hubby is very supportive and won’t allow me to disappoint myself by making excuses.

In the end, I know the benefit will be for the entire household. A healthier TBC means a more active mom, and a more confident woman. It means that I’m showing my kids what health is, not just preaching about it from the couch. It means feeling sexy and looking my best which my hubby won’t object to. It means being what I was again. There is definitely more effort than I used to have to expend, but it will make the victory that much sweeter.

Next Week: Getting A New Attitude