Voodoo Tuesday: My effort every week to remind myself of the million pieces of voodoo (also known as good habits) that are progressing me on my journey. Today's voodoo...
There Are No Off-Limits Foods
In prior lifetimes of "dieting," I would get hung up on the idea that I "can't have that" or that certain foods are "bad." The obsession would become crippling until I was forced to choose between breaking out of my self-imposed food imprisonment or living deprived (which would only last so long until I was ready to sell myself on the corner for a Swiss Cake Roll).Food cannot be bad. You don't see Mac & Cheese knocking off convenience stores or pushing little old ladies down in the street. Pizza won't take your sister out on three dates & then never call again. Fried Chicken can't call in "sick" & then go golfing. There are foods that are better choices than others, but there isn't one single bite out there that is "bad."
This time around I have worked really hard at ending the temptation to demonize food. I try to focus on eating for fuel & making the best choices that I can. Sometimes the best choice is a Krispy Kreme--not because it is nourishing to my body, but simply because those little minions tickle my taste buds. New Sara knows that the entire box of Krispy Kremes is never the best choice, but sometimes one fudge iced, creme filled is. Outside of medical reasons or religious/moral choices, I believe that there are no off-limits foods, only off-limits portions.
It's hard to shake the diet mentality. Food packaging & social pressure has conditioned me to look for the light, reduced, or diet option if I want to lose weight--but I don't want to live a light, reduced, or diet life. So I choose moderation with a focus on eating mostly real foods. That way, when the Krispy Kreme urge hits, I can enjoy one rather than feel miserable (physically & emotionally) after six.
Thank you for this post! I think the thing that has continuously stopped me from losing any more than 10 pounds is the idea of what life is going to be like once I get to where I want to be. The fear of something that I can't control becasue there's a way's to go til I get there. Instead of pressing forward, I stop and get back into the rut. Your post is right on and moderation is key. Thanks for the motivation!
ReplyDeleteI too have struggled with this issue for years. Thank you so much for putting into words what i've known, but never been able to articulate. Your wisdom makes the world a better place!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for this post. I have been really struggling with this and restricting a lot of what I eat, when really I just need to restrict how much of it I eat.
ReplyDeleteAnd ya know what?! Those "lite", "diet", "low fat" products are often full of aspertame etc that are worse for our bodies than the fat content of the real thing.
You rock!