This quote is on the side walk of Downtown Greenville, SC. Just in case you can’t read it…
Erma Bombeck says, “I’ve been on a constant diet for the last two decades. I’ve lost a total of 789 pounds. By all accounts I should be hanging from a charm bracelet.”
This quote struck me funny, because I see a lot of truth in her statement. When I stop to recount all the different diets I have been on and all the weight I have lost at various times…I should be ballerina thin right now! 🙂 I guess the number I haven’t added in my head is all the weight I gain back at various times.
I am sure there are many of you like me… who diet, lose weight, and put it all back on over time. I have not really been serious about my weight since I had children.
Yes, I have been disgusted with myself, frustrated at tight clothes, and I have lost a little weight here and there…but I can think of only three months out of the last five years I have been serious about it.
Until 2011….
I have decided to get serious about my health (notice I didn’t say weight…I am changing my mindset), I also feel if I put it on my blog and facebook it helps me be more accountable.
This year, I am thinking more about my health and less about my weight.
This year, I am thinking more about my lifestyle choices and less about fad diets.
Let me go ahead and say…I don’t think diet is “bad word” necessarily because it pertains to what you are eating.
I started this year off with a cleansing diet and some homeopathic drops called HCG drops. And, boy has it worked! I have dropped some pounds, but I do realize this is not the diet I want to be on for the rest of my life…so the last two weeks I have been planning some low carb, good healthy meals for my family. Starting this coming Monday I will move to a low calorie/low carb diet and incorporate more exercise in to my life. Along with it, I am going to allow myself a cheat day…so I am not depriving myself of things I really enjoy like Japanese, Mexican, Pizza, Sweets and the list goes on and on. (Not to be eaten all in one day of course!)I definitely think this is a diet I can maintain for the rest of my life.
Back to the HCG Drops…this diet was pretty difficult for me. But, I learned three very important things… 1- I do have the will power to stick to something. I did this diet for an entire month. I see I do have discipline when it comes to eating.
2- In this diet you eat and use a lot of stuff that is not processed and more natural and I have really enjoyed this. I feel better because of it. I am even using natural cosmetics, and toiletries. This is something I plan to continue with my new lifestyle in dieting.
3- Stevia…never heard of it until this month. It is a natural sugar and it also comes in flavorings for coffees and teas. Ummm Ummm Good and Good for you! It is my new friend!
I am excited about some other things that are coming up that will help me be more accountable to being healthy…
Our church has started a group called Fit 4 Jesus. It is designed to keep us all accountable in being healthy. A couple of the things offered are group exercise and assistance with meal planning when needed. We all have to weigh in and the leader is keeping track. Every time you gain a pound, you have to pay a dollar. At the end of our session the person who has lost the most gets a big prize! I was excited to see the huge group of women and men that signed up to participate!
Also, our little downtown here in Manchester just opened a health food store and restaurant called the Health Nut. I am excited to have access to some healthy choices just a few minutes away.
And last,
I am signing up for the Music City Half Marathon on April! I am so excited about this. I am a goal oriented person and competitive, so I am looking forward to the challenges I will face as I train and run!
So there is my story…to be continued…
So far, I have lost 29 pounds… and I am more than half way to my weight goal! I am excited!