I'm reading my friend's postings on facebook about their new diets and intentions to get healthier in 2014. I'm doing the same thing so I'm interested!
I'm learning I'm not nearly as committed as some.
I recently saw a friend who's fit, gorgeous, smart, etc. coaching another friend on his plans to diet. She doesn't look her age in my opinion. She's a bit younger than me but is stunning and looks in her 30's I think. For real. People say that about me but as I have a 30 yr old daughter I look at her and know it to be incorrect.
Anyway, it gave me a window into her life. A window that made me realize that no matter how beautiful she is or fit or smart, her lifestyle will not work for me. My immediate gut reaction to their discussion was that life wouldn't be worth living any more and they were pretty much focused on talking about things you drink as far as specifics went! It doesn't take much I'm afraid...
They talked about drinking water most of the time (ick - this is my personal opinion - I'm not a water person unless it's super hot outside).
No soda, diet or otherwise. Not an option for me because I LOVE the fizzy stuff!! My diet mountain dew, the occasional coke that is sooooo delicious!! And not to mention diet A&W root beer to mix with Rum Chata! Deliciousness!!! That's pretty much the sodas I drink so there aren't many but the ones I like I really like, enough to put up with caffeine addictions to have!
Limited alcohol. This one is not as much of a biggy because wine is OK in moderation. I tend to drink very moderately anyway so that works for me, but still, no vodka? No limoncello? (I make it with everclear and apparently clear alcohol is bad news) I guess I shouldn't get worked up about that since I have a little vodka sitting in my house and it hasn't been touched for months and haven't had limoncello in the house for a VERY long time since I haven't gotten around to brewing up a batch in many months. Guess that's not much of a hardship in reality but I loves me some Rum Chata and Disaronno now and again!
Honestly all they had to discuss was drinking water most of the time and I realized I will never, ever be like her. And I realized that's ok. I'm still going to exercise more and do portion control. I will drink less alcohol because weight watchers points on alcohol are ridiculous! 5 pts for a glass of vino! When you get to eat 29 pts a day that's a chunk and you have to wonder if it's worth it? It's not most of the time. Alcohol will be even more of a rare treat than it is now. Which is fine.
One problem will be reducing my limeade intake. I have a crazy love for that delicious juice!! But it's fattening and I probably drink more calories on that than anything else during the week. I will stop buying it except for rare occasions I think. Makes me sad. But if I can have it now and then I can deal with that.
I will drink more water but it will probably never be my primary drink.
And earlier I guess I didn't quite hit my main point. My main point is that for me, controlling my diet to that extent makes life not worth living. Stupid isn't it?
But food is a great love of mine. HUGE!!! It has been a great love my entire life. Good food and drink. They called me bottomless pit as a kid for good reason! I love food!! I love to make it, to eat it, to smell it, to look at it. When I open my favorite bottle of wine I like to just smell it - makes me happy to just smell it! It's one of the great joys in life for me! I'll eat it when I'm not even hungry because I love the stuff!
People think you must be filling some emotional void in your life if you over eat. I over eat because I love food. That simple! Apparently I love it more than the average person.
Ken understands because he's the same way. We talk about what we ate like it's almost a competition each day, commenting on how good this or that sounds. Talking about recipes we want to try. We watch cooking shows and wish we could try everything. When he comes for a visit one of the main things discussed is which of our favorite places we'll go out to eat at! We have a love of food in common. You could say we're foodies. We're interested in weird food, common food, strange or compelling combinations, good food, curious about bad food.. I'm considering trying lutefisk just because I'm curious. I've eaten alligator and raccoon. I've eaten durian (I don't recommend this). We are wired this way. It's one of the things I love about my life and I don't want to change it. But I do need to manage it better.
In order for me to have a successful, healthy lifestyle, I need to work on the art of moderation and exercise. If for one minute I start thinking I can't have something, it's all over. I've learned this about myself over years of dieting. But if I think I can have some later, when the time is right and be thoughtful about my choices, then it works. Instead of no, it's no for now.
I've done it before. I practiced moderation. I lost about 50 pounds. Then I stopped. I went back to eating what I wanted, when I wanted and in quantities I wanted. And here I am again.
Moderation is the new lifestyle option for me. That's what I really need to work on!
