Grieving

We have a question this week:

Ok Cindy I am dieting. I am NOT a dieter. I do not like it I do not like it I do not like it. I think I would rather work out with you. ( I really would:)) Ok here is the thing. I have noticed a few things that I really feel are "normal" but nobody really talks about.

I am 37 100lbs over weight etc. I have to change my ways. What I am finding that I am really grieving the fact that there is foods out there I should NEVER eat again. If I am serious and if I do not want to be heavy for ever I have to change my mind set and just eliminate very common and comfort foods for me....foods I have at without limit all my life. I know moderation blah blah but what i am saying is when I get healthy these foods I like now mostly will make me ILL when I eat them so really it is over. Its not about oh you can have it just in little quantity. It doesnt work that way. Example I used to LOVE church's chicken ( did you just throw up?) I didn't eat it often or eat the skin but if I eat that now I get sooooooooooo sick. So I do not eat it. But I am looking at the whole picture of what it is going to take and the list of NOTS is HUGE. Life changing. I am sad, I am grieving ,mourning .... lost. I miss the texture, the taste, the accessibility etc
I really think this grieving is the hardest part.

Anyhow I know i just rambled myself silly here but let me know what you think. If you want to call me a big baby you can I am good with that. But I think people do not change because of this grief. People avoid grief at all cost. And I NEVER hear anyone talk about it like this. So thoughts?

Answer: You bring up a good point. We do have to go through a type of grieving process. Just like you said, people do not change because it hurts. Did you ever have growing pains as a kid? Man, I did! I would wake up in the middle of the night crying because my legs hurt. It's kinda the same thing. We're growing up. We're denying ourselves so we can grow into a healthier person. We're saying, "No" to our flesh, to our taste buds, and to our emotions. It is hard, but it can be done and the rewards are worth it!

With that being said, we can have anything in moderation, if we can moderate it. I can't moderate pop, so I can NEVER have it again. We have to know what we can moderate and what we can't. Even if we can moderate it, just like you said, we can no longer physically digest it or it doesn't taste like what we remember. It no longer holds the "magic" that it once held. But, we have to realize that, that is a good thing. It's a positive thing to change our eating to include healthier foods.

I have definitely had my moments of grief. One time I promised myself a piece of chocolate cake that I had eaten in the past. I was dreaming about it; drooling for it. I ate it and it was just okay, but it didn't hold up to the memory. I had major feelings of disappointment. But, then I tried a new meal at a new place and it was fantastic! Now, that meal holds good memories for me. We just change our tastes and our use of food. We no longer use food to comfort or if we do, it's a healthier food and that brings us pleasure.

It helps me to remember that I am making a choice to be healthier. I can choose to eat whatever I want, nothing is denied. However, I want health over the food, so I choose healthy 90% of the time. As for the other 10% of the time, I exercise more when I indulge. It's all about balance; balancing calories, exercise, food, life.

Eat Intentionally,

Cindy