"Dieting"

There are a lot of people going on diets. They start them and they end up failing. Why? Because they do not incorporate your favorite- or even regular foods. You get “cheat meals” or foods that you can never eat EVER. Okay, sure, I’m sure that you are NEVER GOING TO EAT ICE CREAM AGAIN EVER. Until next week.

It does not work. I get the 21 day fix things, or the Whole30 and all of it. These diets help you see food differently and make you become more aware of what you are eating. If that is why you do these things and that will get you started to become healthier, cool, more power to you. I just don’t really think it is sustainable for your entire life. You are probably going to want to go out to eat, or buy processed food. I do think we should eat less of it and eat as much whole, clean food as we can. That’s a thought for someone with a lot more research and experience than me.

My experience is in losing weight and becoming healthier. I have said before the only real way to lose weight is to make sure you are burning more calories than you take in. If you eat McDonalds for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, chances are that’s going to be pretty difficult for you and you may want to rethink your life choices. One does not simply burn off that amount of food in a quick session at the gym. Basically, you have to keep track of what you eat and what you are burning. There are calories burned calculators everywhere online. I have mentioned LoseIt is a great tool to count your calories you’ve eaten. There are many great apps to track your calories burned based on your activity and current weight.

I have heard many fitness experts and fitness “gurus” (whatever the heck that means) say that keeping track of your calories is so tedious and boring, and that we shouldn’t tie our worth to a number. I disagree with the first-it's really not that tedious. I totally agree with the second. Do NOT attach your worth to a number, not on the scale or in the calories you consume. You are worth dying for. Jesus, the most perfect person to ever walk this earth, loved you so much that he died the most shameful death on a cross for you. He thinks you are worthy of love. In him you are loved and accepted. DO NOT think otherwise. If you do you attach your worth to numbers you will whether you are overweight, a healthy weight, or underweight, just take my word on that.

Back to what it takes to get your body healthy-- I’m not sure what those experts are getting at. Maybe they have never struggled with their weight; maybe they can control their portion size without counting. I am just saying I cannot. I am now happy and healthy and yes I do count calories. Not perfectly, but I do keep track for my own health and well-being. I eat what I want and when I am hungry. What I want to eat has changed with being at this for five years now. I used to only ever want…cheese, chocolate, oh and more cheese. Now I have learned I like more variety of foods, different things help me feel fuller, and feel healthier. It does require effort. You have to want to change. It will be hard. If you have been overweight, your body is going to fight against you. You gotta fight back! Yes, you are strong enough to do it. You’re stronger than you think. I guarantee it. As one of my little boys with autism once told me, “you just need to find your brave!”

Until next time. Peace out home slice. Great now I want some pizza.