Taking Quincy's advice...

The way that I have been eating and living has truly impacted my life in ways I can not even count! I began cleaning out all of my emotional hangups before I even tried to start a new eating lifestyle. I know I eat when I am bored, upset, angry, sad, fidgety...whatever. I used to eat all the time...socially was the worst! I dug down deep inside myself and cleared out the garbage ( honestly if you want to know how this worked without paying someone I asked Heavenly Father for some big time help. Let go and Let God is and always will be my new way of thinking!) Apply this to everything that makes you eat. First make a list and observe when you eat junk/or eat too much food. You will see a pattern! Then begin the journey of applying what you know...give the troubles to God and I promise He will take care of them, pray to have the strength to resist the temptation of eating to "medicate".

This is not all...next you will feel stir crazy, like you just can't control it...run the other way! I chose to have a Diet Pepsi, but whatever you do get out of the kitchen and go somewhere else. Distraction...is KEY! Always have some things around that are super easy that you give your self " permission" to eat at any given time. I do NOT calorie count. I know about how many calories I am eating from general experience collected from years of watching what I eat...but it is important to know a "restriction" such as calorie counting is not something that EVER worked for me, so I don't do it. I ask myself if I am really hungry and tick through my list in my head of why I want to eat. I then decide if it is time for a meal or a quick permission snack. I have food( nuts) on hand in my car so I can fill my desires when I am out , as well. If you replace your sweets with stuff like nuts and humus and good stuff...veggies, apples then you don't feel so deprived.

After a week of very strict discipline( takes a ton of will power but God is right there to help with that part!) you will find it does become easier. After a month it is even easier. Now that I have been doing this for 4 months I can make goodies and treats and it doesn't even bother me. I am a " give me an inch I will take a mile" person. Moderation is hard for me so if I eat one cookie I will likely eat 10. I am "All or nothing" so I choose not to eat anything I am tempted by so I won't have to stop myself. Some people can do little treats but not me. NOT at all.

I made a plan of the foods I was going to avoid, mostly ones I know cause me to be hungrier( sugar, cheese..except asiago and mizithra occasionally on my pasta in small amounts...and BUTTER the big kickers for me. ) I don't eat toast, of any kind but I do eat bread if it is good whole wheat for a sandwich, just not everyday.

Next step...find what you CAN eat when you go out. I like to eat out too much but I know what I can order so I don't have to choose whether to eat badly or not when it comes down to it. I know where I will eat and what I will eat..DONE! I once drank 7 Diet Pepsi's to avoid feeling the temptation of eating dessert when everyone else was having dessert (probably not good but I didn't cave in becasue I had a plan!)

Lastly...social situations... I thought I would miss eating socially but I don't, at all. Now... I am a very social person and I put myself out there. I don't get embarrassed about stuff so when I am asked if I want something sweet I say " I DON"T EAT SUGAR!" I used to announced it to several people in the room right away because then I knew they would be watching so I couldn't secretly eat the treat and try to start over the next day. INSURANCE! Now, everyone I know knows what I am doing so I don't need to announce it anymore ,for my own safety. This is a big part of the plan...let all( hence this blog) know what you are doing...1,000 personal trainers! I think this part sealed the deal for me.

I keep in mind that I am not on the Biggest Loser and I am not going to lose 13 pounds a week and meet my ultimate goal in 9 weeks, by any stretch of the imagination. I have given myself time to make this happen naturally...I sure did NOT put all that weight on in like 2 weeks so whu would I expect it to come off permantly in quick time? I will not crash/fad diet...EVER again! It boils down to this: HARD work outs, eating right and not too much, sleeping well and most importantly PRAYER! Fat does not come off by itself and eating well is only half of the equation. Without the hard work of excercise your pay off is not the same. PERIOD. There is NO magic pill, no MAGICAL shake...nothing ...it is eating well and excercise... simple but not easy. Kind of like the gospel.

And that is how I have come to this point if my life.

I hope this wasn't too confusing.