It took me a long time to realize that I am an addict. I am addicted to food. I like food. It tastes good. I also like food as a comfort. Food doesn't let me down (in the moment, anyway - it totally does in the long run). Personally, I think a food addiction is one of the worst addictions out there. Why? Because you have to eat food to survive. It has to be part of your daily life. You can't just ignore it and hope you don't do it. You don't really have a choice.
What you do have a choice about is what you put in your body. For me, this has been a difficult road to learn. I love food. I love breakfast food. I could eat it all day every day if you let me. I especially love fast food breakfast food (probably because I didn't have to make it, and it tastes good). The people at Hardee's and McDonald's probably had to fire some employees because I stopped going there for breakfast. That's how much I ate there. Seriously, it was 7 out of 7 days a week. It was bad. I was addicted. It was the first thing I thought of when I woke up. I made excuses to have to "run errands" on Saturday mornings so that I could go enjoy my breakfast in peace (which usually meant sitting in the parking lot, mindlessly munching on breakfast and sucking down sweet tea, all while reading a book). I look back at that and can't believe that was just four months ago. It seriously feels like a lifetime.
I am not saying I have been perfect on this eating plan. I haven't. I've enjoyed my pizza, burgers, tacos just like you. But, I can say with all honesty that I have not succumbed to that way of life. And for that I am proud. They say the first step of overcoming an addiction is to realize that you have a problem. I'm admitting here that I have a problem. I will probably struggle with this my whole life. That's okay. It will be fine. Because now I am more educated than ever, and I can make the right decisions for me. I can choose whether I want that pizza/burger/taco...because I know what I have to do to burn off the calories I just ate. While once in awhile it is good, I have to say, it really isn't worth it in the long run. Did you know that it takes about 5 minutes to consume 500 calories...yet takes over 2 hours to burn off that many calories (for an average person)? Hardly seems worth it.
For awhile now, I've been stuck on a plateau. I was at a certain number before I had surgery for about 2 weeks...then, I gained the 8 pounds during surgery week, and then lost that, and I've been camped at the same number for the past 3 weeks. This week, I really tried to focus on my cardio and getting more of that in versus the weight training. I don't love the cardio any more, and I miss the weights, but the cardio is what gets the poundage moving. Yesterday, I weighed in and discovered I had blown the plateau. I was down 3.5 this week for a grand total of 75.5 pounds. I can't be upset about that!
I finally was able to open my card that my friend Cynthia sent me on June 22nd. That's how long I've been hovering near the 75 pound mark. It was so irritating when I was just chilling out at the 74.5 mark. Seriously? Of all the numbers...anyway, I'm so excited that the scale is moving again. This week, I'm going to really try to "clean up" my clean eating and not make so many rash decisions. I am going to try to plan a little better. I find myself making excuses all the time about time or skipping a meal because I am too busy at work, etc. The point is, I have to make time. If it is important to me, I will make time.
If you have not started your weight loss journey yet, I encourage you to do so. Becoming free from the strongholds and bondage of fast food and junk has been the best experience. Now, when a friend asks me to go to lunch or something, I'm worried if they might not have salad or healthy options on the menu. Really? That totally was not me four months ago. This journey requires change. It requires sweat, tears, dedication and a willing spirit. Then, and only then, will it happen.
This week's quote: The harder you work, the harder it is to surrender.
