Thinking about diet or food or what I eat is such a double-edged sword for me; on one hand, I love food, and on the other, I so resent it and have often felt ashamed of my eating habits.
I'm reading a book called Sing Them Home, in which one of the main characters is a successful art history professor who is obsessed with food--she thinks about it constantly, hides food, and makes elaborate plans about ways to eat the most atrocious foods without other people finding out or seeing. There's a scene in which she waits until everyone in the house goes to sleep, sneaks downstairs to get the ice cream, finishes the carton, then rinses it out, folds it up, and hides it in the bottom of her trash can so no one notices. I've been there.
My efforts to think about what I eat as sustenance, in the most whole and healing sense of the word, on the flip side.
WHEE (Weight, Health, Eating and Exercise) is a community support diary for Kossacks who are currently or planning to start losing, gaining or maintaining their weight through diet and exercise or fitness. Any supportive comments, suggestions or positive distractions are appreciated. If you are working on your weight or fitness, please -- join us! You can also click the WHEE tag to view all diary posts.
As is so often the case, I can see in others what I can't see in myself. I gave some neighbors some lovely zucchini last year and they literally didn't know what to do with it--they'd never had zucchini or yellow squash before. They ended up making zucchini bread with about 2 lbs. of chocolate chips in it! Another neighbor came to visit and was sitting on my porch with her 18 month old daughter who was already overweight and toting a 1 liter bottle of Pepsi around, sucking on it like a bottle. I have a nephew that age and I would be so saddened if that were his nutrition routine.
I can see that what a kiddo likes and what is easy, is certainly not what is necessarily good or sustaining for them. So why can't I see this as clearly in my own life?
I am quite deliberate about seeking out and making room in my life for those things that sustain my spirit. I have a wonderful family--we are close and really enjoy each other. I live close to my nephew (& new niece) and we have a wonderful time:
My dog is a great companion. We play and watch out for each other.
I love to garden and so my home is surrounded by beautiful plants and insects:
I laugh a lot.
That video makes me laugh & makes me tear up every time I watch it.
I read voraciously, I love my job, I have wonderful friends, I try to learn new things and challenge myself. I seek out that which sustains my spirit with great deliberation and care.
So I have begun to try to approach my literal sustenance as thoughtfully as I approach of my spiritual sustenance. Watermelon with fresh, chopped mint. Cucumber sliced thin with pear balsamic vinegar. Chicken & zucchini on the grill. Roasted apples. Whole wheat pasta with a bit of butter or olive oil, garlic, and fresh cilantro or basil. Greek yogurt with fresh blackberries.
I know that all of us who are trying to lose have different methods, plans, allergies, preferences, etc. and that we will find our sustenance in different ways. I'm also not a purist--I fully intend to have junk food sometimes, just like I fully intend to read People magazine when I'm in the doctor's office and just like I'll continue to go watch bad romantic comedies. But I think that one important step for me has been to realize that I need to really sustain and nourish myself--not just figuratively, but also literally.
So, how are you guys sustaining yourselves literally & figuratively? How are you sustaining your motivation and commitment?
Future diaries:
Aug 7:
Fri AM - NC Dem
Fri PM - sheddhead
Aug 8:
Sat AM ???
Sat PM ???
Aug 9:
Sun AM - louisev
Sun PM ???
Aug 10:
Mon AM ???
Mon PM ???
Aug 11:
Tues AM ???
Tues PM ???
Aug 12:
Wed AM - Edward Spurlock
Wed PM ???
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