Eight Long Days

As previously "warned", I started a new "diet" last Monday. I finally began following "The 17 Day Diet" by Dr. Mike Moreno. Today is day 8. I can't say it gets easier, but it's not really the dieting that's hard. What is hard is telling my body to not crave certain things. Certain foods that seem to "get me through the day", like sweets, carbs, salty stuff, pop. We all know that when we tell our kids "not" to do something, it's the first thing they want to do. Dieting is no different, no matter what your age!

I admitted last time that I am an emotional eater. What does that mean, really? Aren't we "emotional" all the time? We're happy, we're sad, we're ticked off, disappointed, calm, excited, grouchy, almost 100% of the time. Is this an excuse to eat? It seems that way, especially when so many experts claim that overweight people are that way because they medicate with food. Does this mean that all skinny people are just bouncing off the walls happy?? I think not! I've been skinny longer than not, and I can tell you, I was no different! It's just that back then I could eat 10 oreos and a can of Coke and wake up skinny day after day!

I've decided that dieting is no longer about being skinny or not. It's about my body image. I had a poor body image from day one. It didn't matter if I could wear a bikini or a cute little black dress. It didn't change the way I saw myself in the mirror. I guess you could say I was a good candidate for an eating disorder in my younger days. In fact, I was probably an exercise addict for a few of my teen years. It didn't matter how many compliments I got. It didn't matter what anyone said. I didn't believe them. After having two children and beginning to "fill out", I panicked. I had never been remotely heavy in my life. I thought being a size eight was enormous at the time. That was pretty distorted thinking!!

I now believe that if I don't begin to accept and love the body I have, I will never be a success with any kind of attempted improvement. If my attitude says, "you're not good enough", then will it really matter how thin I get? I don't think so either. I know there is a lot of internal work to be done, and a lot of acceptance to be done. It's more than being on "day eight" for sure. It really is believing that I'm all God says I am and has planned for me to be, no matter the size. Drill drill drill....

As for the diet plan, it's really quite healthy and filling. I've been able to have taco salad, chili, omelets, and plenty of fruit so far. I'm hoping that if anything, it will help me to maintain better eating habits. The rest is all up to me!