Saturday, February 13, 2010

The Breakup

A tear was hanging there in the corner of my eye and then slowly it tricked down my right cheek. I looked longingly at the building as I drove by on my way to work yesterday. I even thought I smelled a familiar aroma....but alas....I didn't. It was just my imagination playing tricks on me.

As I walked in to the office, I clutched the small Starbucks Chai Latte in my hand. I put down my tote bags and started to remove my food for the day....Total cereal, blueberries, strawberries, soy milk, leftover quinoa pasta with zucchini and spinach pasta sauce, raisins, celery and peanut butter. I placed the cold things in the fridge, left the rest in the bag and sat down at my desk. As I took a sip of my chai latte.....I smiled.

YOU DID IT KATHY!!! YOU REALLY DID IT!!!! It's Friday and you did NOT stop at Dunkin' Donuts, and you are NOT eating a fattening, salty, cholesterol filled egg and cheese croissant that is going to turn the pH of your blood upside down and make your body steal calcium from your precious little bones!!! Chee Hoo!!!!

Friends even though I feel like I broke up with the love of my life...if I can say NO to that egg and cheese croissant, I can say NO to most anything...and today that included cookies, candy and cake that filled our lunch table. I didn't have a single bite.

On the serious side...this change in diet is not easy. I feel hungry a lot. Before if I was hungry, I knew that I could reach in my tote bag for some chips or crackers. They would fill me up. They would make me happy.

Now when I am hungry and I reach in my bag, I find things like dried apricots. If I go to the fridge, I find things like carrots. Those things do NOT fill me up, nor do they make me happy.

After eating like I did my entire life, I think it just becomes a habit. I think you learn to love the taste of certain foods as well as that feeling of being just perfectly full. It has to be an emotional thing.

Now I am in the process of "unlearning" those habits and creating new ones. I have discovered that I can live without the sweets except for my chai and that's okay for now. What I am really missing are the salty, filling snacks. I love things like cheese, crackers, pita chips and corn chips. It's funny because I don't like my food salty. I even buy salt free soup and put in a little dash of my own salt....but salty snacks were my "thing".

Salt is bad, bad, bad for our bones, so I am trying to avoid it. That isn't to say I will never have another salty snack, because I will...just not every day like I was.

I really did an awesome job this week, but it was tough. So much thought has to go into what I'm buying and eating right now that I find it more like work. I am keeping up with my pilates and my yoga and my new treadmill is a dream come true. I am on that thing for 30 minutes every morning before work and I actually like it! I find it challenging and I love a challenge.

I hope that all of you are getting up and doing some walking or some kind of exercise. Making some small changes now might keep you from having to make major changes later.....besides your bones will love you for it!

Make it an awesome day for yourself!

16 comments:

Bluebell said...

Kathy you are a real inspiration, I am trying really hard to change my diet. I have a very sweet tooth and love cakes,biscuits and anything chocolate. I also love cheese which is also a no no I do not buy cake and biscuits and cake anymore so that temptation is removed from the house but,I still have a biscuit at sewing class which is only one a week. I am trying to eat less bread but find that hard but small steps I am doing o.k. Keep up the good work.
Love Jillxx

Lanyardlady said...

Breaking up is hard to do! But it usually opens the door for something better to come along. I'm glad your new regimen is a success.

Mary Richmond said...

yay for you! for me it's the sugar AND the salt. i still have days when i cheat but mostly i've gotten so used to the carrot sticks that i prefer them to the chips.

and i also discovered that feeling full really meant over full...

i have always eaten pretty well--my problem is overeating. i was a smoker for years and snacking became a real issue when i quit...as i've changed my diet i'm snacking on much healthier things.

i agree, it's hard to change and we all have our triggers. mine is ice cream and cookies. can't touch them. it's like being an alcoholic--eating one just sets me up!

you're doing great! hang in there--it takes awhile to be comfortable with new habits but you are very strong willed and committed!

yay!!!

Anonymous said...

Good for you! You had a defining moment and you won.

As Bluebell said ~ you are an inspiration.

Amy said...

I am sooooooooo proud of you!!!! It's amazing what you are doing- and not easy!

P.S. I get a small starbucks chai latte in the mornings, too! (but I only get 2 pumps of chai syrup instead of the regular 3 because I like it a little milder.

LDWatkins said...

You are doing so well with this! I think also when we realize it's not a 'diet' but a way of life it sorta changes your outlook on the process. This is your life and you are making it better and better. You go girl! I'm working on mine, too!

Matty said...

Making a diet change is always difficult. I've tried a number of times myself. A hearty applause to you for your successful efforts. Keep up the good work.

P.S. I don't envy you.

Beth Anderson said...

Congratulations Kathy - you are an inspiration. I know it will continue to be a struggle but I know you realize you have made it over the first and hardest hurdle!

Cathryn said...

Remember, it takes three weeks to build a habit--and you are well on your way!

Congratulations on your success-it will keep you empowered!

Ali said...

Good for YOU!!!!

I recently started following the "eat clean diet" and will say that I am never hungry - google it. Its basically just all unprocessed healthy stuff. Its easy and I am not hungry.

Lost 10 lbs so far!

YAY for being healthy!

Ms Sparrow said...

Does this mean you are forsaking your Stacy's Pita Chips? They must be going over really big because the last time I went to Target, they were sold out!

I am rarely hungry, it's my appetite that screws me up. I can eat a big supper and then a little while later, I'm prowling the kitchen looking for a snack. I'm incorrigible!

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

Good for you, Kathy! I'll bet that in another couple of weeks you'll find that you don't crave the old stuff, and that the carrots etc. will, in fact, make you happy. Hope so, anyway!

The Muse said...

I am so sad...and proud...LOL

You are well on your way...it (he?~lol) may have been th love of your life...but he (it) was a scoundrel...a good kick to the curb was what you needed to do...and YOU did it!
BRAVO!

Sherry said...

It's a grand accomplishment for a very important reason. I'm sure that it not lost on you. I too have been eating so much better!

I learned how to make my own almond milk this week. Filling, and lovely in a fruit smoothie.

xo

gayle said...

You are doing a wonderful job!! You should be very proud of yourself!!

Anonymous said...

I'm shouting you an "Atta girl!" from "up north."

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