I have been able to get away with eating what I wanted for most of my life. No diet drinks, no sugar-free crap. Pure sugar and home-baked goods for me. I was a sugar junkie. Working labor-intensive jobs and constantly running around like a crazy person burnt that off quick. Why not eat what I like AND why go out of my way to exercise when I was walking/running around all day (and night). I had some weight fluctuation and I did that yo-yo dieting thing. For the most part, I maintained my weight ...

I have been able to get away with eating what I wanted for most of my life. No diet drinks, no sugar-free crap. Pure sugar and home-baked goods for me. I was a sugar junkie. Working labor-intensive jobs and constantly running around like a crazy person burnt that off quick. Why not eat what I like AND why go out of my way to exercise when I was walking/running around all day (and night). I had some weight fluctuation and I did that yo-yo dieting thing. For the most part, I maintained my weight of 138....until I hit 40. I noticed pounds creeping up on me and didn't give it much thought--I'd work those off. Then I hit 178 ??!!

So I took a really good look at what I was eating. I had averaged 4,000 calories a day-an easy 1000 calories of which was candy-for years. After awhile of just eating better meals and watching what I ate (and my weight was still going up) I cut out the soda, the sugar (YEAH STEVIA!!), eating candy, white flour-for the most part, processed foods, fast foods-except the occasional Subway and I go out of my way to do specific exercise and cardio. Instead of making white bread I make whole wheat multi-grain bread. I am down to 158 but it is taking an enourmous amount of time. I know that this is because I am doing it right. It gets frustrating and plenty of times I have thrown my hands up and eaten that thing I am not supposed to eat. But...

What I have learned is:
*I can have a Cinnamon roll but I don't have to finish it- I can share it.
*I can bake all I want, eat a serving then give the rest away.
*Diet soda in jello is wonderful.
*Sugar free cool whip tastes GREAT!
*There are more calories in milkshakes than I ever thought possible.
*Fat free sugar free frozen yogurt is actually quite good.
*I don't miss candy nearly as much as I though I would.
*I don't miss soda nearly as much as I thought I would.
*Crystal light in sparkling water is so refreshing.
*Oatmeal is great when you use the thick, coarse oats and use lite flavored yogurt instead of milk.
*The Zone diet makes A LOT of sense.
*You can get a lot of Audiobooks in when you exercise on a machine.
*You learn to despise machines if that is all you do.
*Zumba class is wonderful fun!
*Though this new way of eating is for the rest of my life this doesn't mean I cannot have some of those "forbidden foods" ever again. They will just need to be fewer and farther between.
*These will also be easier to burn off because of the regular exercise I do and a higher metabolism.
*Making my own good-for-me balanced meals is cheaper, easier to measure, more accurate nutrition calculations, and SO much better for me.
O.K. well....that one I've always known.

I have to pay for the casual eating I did all those years. I have to reconsider my choices and really pay attention to why and when I need to eat. No more skipping breakfast, eating junk for lunch at whatever time I thought about it and eating right before bed.
I also know that this is not just to lose weight anymore. It is to live a healthier, happier, longer life.

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