Change takes courage

WOW!!

I just put a post about my blog on Facebook! I am both excited and nervous, as I don't tend to do well with exposing my inner thoughts, but this cause is near and dear to me, as they say.

I have struggled with my weight all my life, haven't enjoyed ANY exercise to speak of since I was in my teen years, and self esteem was, well ... let's just say that the real me hid well behind the "me" everyone else saw. In fact, real friends have told me they saw a me that I didn't see -- they were right. That self esteem thing will come at you and rob you if let it.

Performance and perfection was demanded of me from as far back as I can even recall, and I could do what I had to do to keep the wolves in my life at bay, but I finally realized I had to find me. I was well into losing weight, (then gaining back part or all of it) for the umpteenth time when I realized that food was my scapegoat. To be here, and be free, is new, but priceless to me.

Sharing my struggles with you all may be difficult at first, but now I know "I am perfect just the way I am, but with room for improvement." I love you for showing me this, CP(if you ever read my blog, you will know who you are), and so thankful I finally got it! I have found the truth, and it is within me, so I control a good bit of what goes in and out of my life, be it food, exercise, thoughts, people ... the choices are mine to make -- I can be as healthy as I want to be! Knowing this, I am now truly free to choose who I want to be, and implement positive change that works toward achieving health! I figure I will be at this the rest of my days!

Change takes courage

WOW!!

I just put a post about my blog on Facebook

How much fiber, ladies??

Did you know that ladies need an average of 21 grams of fiber every day? I know it sounds like a lot, but the more we read those labels at the grocers, and the more we practice change, the easier it becomes to incorporate those fiber grams into our daily intake --- and it can be delicious and good for us at the same time!

For example, eat berries and whole grains, fresh veggies, and DARK CHOCOLATE!!

It has taken me some time to turn my diet around, but now I find that these are actually my foods of choice.

Does this mean I never want or have something frivolous and junky, like ice cream or pizza? Heck no, but it does mean those are my "every once in a while" foods, not my "every day" foods.

There's how many feet of noodles in that soup?!!

Still sick, in the recliner, may as well blog, right?

So last night my daughter made me a can of chicken noodle soup - lately, they have been doing commercials saying that there is 32 feet(I think) of noodles in every can. I think they must be right! Good Lord, tons of noodles.

Of nutritional note to me,

• the soup was extremely salty - didn't have the lower salt version handy. Gonna check that out next time I buy some -- see if it is really that much better for us.
• there was fat stuck to the spoon -- YUCK. I have heard you could put ice cubes on the top of the open can and that the fat will stick to it ... then, just throw away the ice? Need to give that a try!

This brings a new question ... What do those of us who seek healthy choices do when we are sick? I have to think about it seriously, and have the pantry ready!

Sick??

I am puzzled?? What do you think? Saturday night, we had a family dinner at a Japanese steakhouse. I was able to eat no more than half the food. Before leaving the restaurant, I started having chills, and got really sick once we arrived home. Ran a high fever Sunday, around 100 today. Headache, nausea, pain in both legs(this part puzzles me).

Since I have reverted back to very simple and fresh foods, I cannot help but wonder if my body revolted from what I had eaten?? Is anyone out there who may have had something very similar occur?

I am feeling better though, as compared to Sunday, but nothing like I want to.

Add the Japanese steakhouse to my NO list for now.

Today I had another Larabar -- this is a new bar that is made from totally unprocessed fruit, nuts, and spices -- no artificial ingredients or additives -- excellent choice for a snack! I found mine at Sam's Wholesale club -- first place I have seen them in a store. I am going to try to find them in some other stores as well, maybe Whole Foods, as I would like to try other flavors beside the 3 in my variety box.

Check out the website y'all!

http://www.larabar.com

Why do people feel the need to "roadblock" you and act like you are punishing them when you are trying to get healthy??? I am so over it ... just frustrates me when I don't get that support when I know I deserve to.

Have not recorded in my Lose It app for my iphone since Thursday -- my fault - still learning to beat my food addiction is a challenge every day. Like an alcoholic or a druggie, I mean to do the right things, but am so easily swayed -- just got "smarty pants" brain the last couple of days and didn't record my food and exercise -- bet I don't find myself pleased when I get on my scales in the morning(Monday). For me, the personal accountability factor is HUGE!!

Tomorrow is another day -- I will get back to my logging of food and exercise. When I don't do this, I now know that I tend to overeat -- not a good choice for me.

Why am I doing a blog??

Around 5 years ago, I realized I needed to get healthy, and I began a journey to do just that. At the time, a great friend of mine and I started out doing Weight Watchers, so we went on a "diet".

Today, I realize this is not a diet, but a journey ... one that never ends. And, I now know that getting healthy is about the mind, body and soul, and nourishing every aspect of "me" every day. If I don't take care of me, who will??

For quite some time, I have been thinking how many million "me's" are out here, trying to walk this path to whole health, and how I can give back by sharing what I have learned. Every day is an adventure on this journey, so HERE I AM!!

Come with me, hear my voice, share yours, and let's be healthy and happy!