One of the things I’m
best at is gaining weight,
and one of the things I
know is that the older I
get, the more I gain and
lose, and the harder it is
to get back to a healthy
weight. Here’s the thing:
I’m still committed to
being active, to feeling
good in my skin, to
being strong, and to
having good stamina.
And I’m not getting any
younger.
needed to continue this way
for years. With just two of us
in the house and my husband
agreeable to whatever works
best, I had it made.
About eighteen months ago,
things began to change. I
suppose I got cocky, having
maintained my weight loss
effortlessly for several years. I
became less careful, more casual
about my food choices. I began
to resist what I knew worked best;
instead, I chose to order and eat
what others were having.
This resistance was a result of
complacency, yes, but as you
might guess there was also an
emotional component. I felt
frustrated and discouraged
about some important aspects of
my life. I was down, really down.
What was in my control?
122 | Eydis Magazine
Food, of course. So I ate. And
ate. Gradually breads, rice,
potatoes, beans, and junkfood snacks crept back into my
shopping basket. So I ate them.
Over time, all the cravings of
years past were back in full
force, maybe even stronger. Like
many others with food issues, I
began to think of food almost
all the time. Thinking of the next
meal or snack while still eating
the current one is a sure sign
that things are out of control.
As I write this article I’m
recovering from a bad head
cold, my first in several years.
Taking a few days off to recover
has given me the opportunity
to observe my thoughts and
behavior around food and to
take a hard look at the scale.
No, it wasn’t a surprise to realize
the gain, but it is time to get
back in action.
So here I go, again. I
know what to do, and
I know full well that it
won’t be easy. What
I’ve learned from education and
experience is that going “cold
turkey” doesn’t work for me.
Here are the steps I’ll use:
•
Identify what I need to put
into my life to support my
best health. This includes
shopping for fresh veggies
and eggs, making time to
prep them, making two to
three fresh salad dressings
and/or dips, checking our
schedules and jotting a
few ideas for lunches and
evening meals.
•
Brainstorm the lapsed habits
that worked well for me.
Take the time to remember
and be mindful of how
great I felt when I lived with
these habits. These include
keeping a food log, taking a
long morning walk, starting
my day with a mix of warm