Get Real

My eating habits have changed for what I consider the better, but others would probably consider the worse. Recently, while retreating alone down in Florida, I looked in my fridge, and realized it was a good thing I was alone. Had my children been there I would hear grumblings such as: ooh, gross; there's nothing to eat; this stuff makes me want to vomit. So let's take inventory: almond milk, pine nut hummus, strawberries, blueberries, carrots, romaine hearts, fresh broccoli, light ranch veggie dip, cage-free eggs, organic natural peanut butter, crumbled bleu cheese, blue cheese dressing and seven gallons of high-alkaline water. Good Lord, no wonder I'm losing weight. If I sat down and ate it all in a day, it would barely add up to the caloric intake of one steak, twice-baked potato and buttery garlic bread dinner. I mean, for goodness sakes, I've eaten more than that at the country club buffet on a Sunday afternoon.

Here's the thing, though: I like all those foods, and eating them has changed my body immensely, both inside and out. I am 40-plus pounds lighter, my blood sugar is lower, my energy level is higher, and I am no longer lethargic or brain-impaired from sugar over load. I don't think about taking an afternoon nap anymore. In fact, I don't even yawn when that hazy, bewitching hour after lunch rolls in like a warm afternoon drizzle. In essence, I am finally eating the foods my body deserves-the foods my doctor told me to eat years ago-and my body is happy.

But alas, I didn't always think (or behave) this way-hence my 19 years of being overweight. It wasn't until recently, when I had a conversation with someone who was planning to start a diet, that I realized the extent of the warped way we can think sometimes.and it jarred me. Indeed, it was exactly the way I used to think. She told me how she was having a cheeseburger and fries for supper. I made mention (not in a preachy way, of course) that instead of having a specific start date, she might want to consider just trying to eat better whenever she can. It all adds up. And then she said it. "No way. I'm eating everything I can between now and then. I deserve it!" That's when it hit me like a ton of bricks. When using the word "deserve", exactly what is our perception of what we are deserving of? You see, in reality, we really deserve nutritious foods that nourish our bodies. But, in actuality, most of us focus on what tastes delicious and comforts our emotions. Been there; done that; will probably do it again.

For years, I thought I deserved to treat myself in the form of dessert.everyday.all while my body revolted, with escalating blood sugar levels that threatened full-blown diabetes. However, if you eat something everyday does it remain a treat-an especially unexpected source of joy or delight; an entertainment given without expense to those invited?

Well, no. It doesn't. It's not unexpected, it's a habit, and it definitely doesn't come without expense. In fact, there is a very high price to pay-like weighing over 200 pounds, like shopping in the plus-size section where no cool clothes exist, and like being over-looked for being ugly and/or dumb on a pretty regular basis. Not to mention the stuff you can't see, so much as you can feel, like the slow, internal disintegration of your health-truly life's biggest freedom!

I'm right there with you sister friend; I love food. I have since I was a child, especially growing up in a Southern household where fried chicken, rice and gravy, and oil-laden, cooked-to-death vegetables were not only the way of life, but also the language of love. Last summer, the time finally came when that love no longer worked for me. I decided to redefine concepts such as love and deserve and treat. Now this, my friend, was completely unexpected.ahhh, perhaps that's why it is the best treat of all.