I would think that any of us that
have been on a health journey may be able to identify with this particular blog
post. Please notice that I did not say
“diet”. I refuse, I absolutely
refuse. I saw a quote on our board at
my wellness center this week that read, “It is not a short term diet. It is a long term lifestyle change.” That is true, oh so true.
I have found that the first stage
of my journey, although I did not realize it at the time, was actually the
easiest part of my journey. Again, note
that I didn’t say “easy”, but rather “easiest.”
Easiest of a journey that is difficult at every stage along the
way.
I am proud to say that, during my
journey, I have lost 70 pounds. But, I
am prouder to say, that I have maintained that 70 pound loss, within 3 to 4
pounds, for the past 2 ½ years. That has
been the hardest part!
When I first started out, the
particular plan I used, was very cut and dry in terms of what I could and could
not have … or should and should not have.
I will say that I stayed the course, and I never strayed “outside the
box.” Since it was pre-determined what
I could and should be doing, I found it very easy to stay on course, and I
continuously, if slowly, lost weight.
Then along came maintenance, and what my particular plan
calls Phase 2. This is the part where
you start to put things back into your diet from the “real world” of
eating. The “real world” that I’ll call
sabotage outright. Our society is not
meant to promote health. Oh yes, we
think we do a great job of promoting health.
All of our food industries have their fat-free, carb-free, calorie-free,
sugar-free marketing tools. They market this stuff exquisitely well. Always with the right verbiage, the pretty
packaging, and all the endorsements from the American Heart Association, The
Cancer Institute, etc. But before you
are quick to make these choices, first take a good class in label reading, so
you can read that label and know exactly what you are putting in your
body. I have been blessed to have my
personal trainer and health educator mentor myself and my support group, along
the way, with proper label reading. We have found that these so-called
“healthy” foods have so much more sodium and additives in order to make them
taste better, that “healthy” may go right out the door. Are all of them bad? Of course not! But beware, beware, and choose wisely. Make an educated choice!
For this particular blog, the
topic I really want to discuss and share is the other part of maintenance and
ongoing healthy choices. I have now
been on my journey since April 7, 2014.
I am a very social person, enjoying my friends, my social life, and
being out and about. I never realized
how much “entertainment by mouth” permeated our social gatherings. In the early days of my journey, I was quick
to say “no, thank you”, bring along healthy choices for myself and others to
share, and admittedly my friends knew I was “dieting” as they called it, so
they would try to be sensitive. But
their tries often only resulted in questions like, “can you have this?” And
then, “You can’t? Why not?” Then of
course, there was always their lesson in what they had read, and why I should
be able to eat one thing or the other.
We finally got beyond all that, as I would often say, “that’s great for
others. But not for me right now.” I think it was finally understood that I was
on a particular journey, and I was not going to deviate.
But as maintenance has moved
along, and I can incorporate other things within my eating habits, we are slowly
getting back to the “sky’s the limit.”
I have found myself having to say “no” too many times, and while I
realize I am probably more sensitive than others, I bet all of us along our
journey have heard the same comments, and defended the same answers. I’ll share now, and I’ll also add my personal
translation of said comments …
Scene 1 …
Comment: “There is a group of us going out tonight to
a happy hour by the river. There are
drinks and appetizers, and there is a good musical group playing. We are leaving about 4:30 and will be home
about 10:00 or 10:30. Please come with
us.”
Me: “Thank you so much for the invitation, but
I’m going to decline this time.” Then
deciding that I needed to be 100% transparent, so it would not be interpreted that I wouldn’t enjoy their
company, I added, “It’s really hard for me to go to some of these functions and
watch others drink and eat, when I really don’t have that in my food plan so
much anymore.”
Comment: “You can go with us and drink water.”
Translation: Yes, we are going to a great amusement park. You can come with us, but you can only look
at the rides, but not ride any of them.
Scene 2 …
Comment: “You can have a piece of this salted caramel
cheesecake. You’ve earned it.”
Me: “That’s 990 calories!!!”
Comment: “Just exercise it off.”
Translation: I deserve to eat a
piece of cheesecake, that may take me 5 minutes to eat, but then walk for 4
hours and 42 minutes, swim laps for 2 hours and 4 minutes, or do general
aerobics for 2 hours and 49 minutes, to try to burn off those calories.
Scene 3 …
A group of us are sitting
together and two of us are talking about eating and exercising and a recent
Wellness Class that I attended.
Comment: “How long are you going to go to these
classes and keep this up?”
Me: “I need the support, and I love the
information I get from the classes.”
Comment: “Don’t you know by now what you can and can’t
eat? And, what will make you gain weight?”
Me: “Well, considering that I ate and lived
fairly unhealthy for over 40 years, I think two years into this process is
still in the very early stages. Things don’t
become habit overnight.”
Comment: *silence*
Translation: This is just
another “fad”, we’ll all move onto another discussion in 6 months, and she’ll be
trying to lose weight again with yet another “program.”
Scene 4 …
Comment: “How much more weight do you want to
lose? When are you going to start eating
normal again?”
Me: “I would love to have a few pounds to play
with, but I’m thrilled with where I am right now. This is my new normal, and I don’t see myself
ever eating differently. It’s what I
like and what I want to eat.”
Translation: “Diets” are not
sustainable, and we are destined to returning to our previous unhealthy ways,
and of course, you will gain your weight back!”
Scene 5 …
A group sitting together,
socializing. A table full of snacks, including my contribution of fresh veggies
and fruit.
Comment: “Can you have almonds? Can you have some of these Pringles, they are
low fat? Can you have some of this
dip? I made it with low fat cream
cheese? These crackers are lower in fat
than the regular ones. They are a healthy snack.”
Me: “No thanks, I’m good! I have been munching on these veggies and
this fruit, and I’m actually pretty full.”
Comment: “Don’t you ever want good stuff again?”
Translation: The crackers are “healthy.” They say less fat, but don’t mind the sodium
and the fact that they are 200 calories for THIRTEEN crackers. Thirteen little bitty crackers!!!!!!!!!!!
Scene 6 …
Having dinner with a group.
Comment: While looking at my plain baked potato with
just a bit of steak sauce on top for flavoring.
“Do you really like that? Don’t
you ever wish you could eat good stuff again?”
Me: “I love steak sauce on my baked potato. I ate my potatoes this way even before I was
eating healthy.”
Translation: YOU ARE
WEIRD!!!!!!!!
The above are real events. I will state vehemently that none of these
comments were made out of malice, unkindness, or to make me feel bad. I think they are comments that just really do
seem normal, and admittedly was my normal before this journey. Lifestyles can be changed, habits can be
changed, and new habits become new lifestyles.
That’s why I love the quote at my wellness center that reads, “It is not
a short term diet. It is a long term
lifestyle change." The sooner those of us on this journey GET
THAT, the easier the new habits become our new lifestyle.
TO HEALTH!!!!!!!!!!!
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