change my relationship with food.

So far so good!
This will not only help me in changing my relationship with food, it will also be conducive to other goals, namely ‘Stop eating fast food’ and ‘Loose 5 pounds’... Hooray!

I think my mom and I are joining?

I’ve been a lot better about not eating the junk IN the house, it’s the junk OUT of the house that’s getting to be a problem. In order to aid in the progress of this goal, I’m adding “give up fast food” to my 43 Things. Food should be sustenance, to fuel my body, not crap, to weigh me down.

When I lived on my own, it was easy to control the food with which I came in contact – I just had to buy “good” food. But here at my mom’s there is one whole shelf of junk food. Doritos, cookies, candy bars, crap. I don’t know why she has all of it; she doesn’t seem to eat any of it. I think it’s just bait to get my brother to visit her more often, haha. In any case, I either need to figure out a way to ignore the temptation, or get the junk out of the house.

Fast food is another problem lately. I think it’s sort of addicting. To fix this problem, I think I’m going to start bringing food with me wherever I go – healthy things – in case I’m out and about and get hungry and start to think that driving through McDonald’s would be a good idea.

and starting to pay attention to what works for me and what doesn’t.
Here are a few things that seem to work for me:

1. Don’t go too low-fat. If I try to go too far in the direction of low-fat, I seem to eat too many empty calories.
2. Include protein in breakfast to see me through the morning. Milk and cereal works, as does peanut butter and banana on a slice of whole-wheat bread. Toaster strudels? Not so much.
3. Cut way, way down on sugar. This may be the key for me. Sugar starts a kind of “snowball effect” for me in which I eat . . . you guessed it . . . more sugar.

Dear Sugary, Fatty, Unheathy Foods,

It’s over, baby!

For most of my life, I have turned to you in times of trouble. When I was anxious, you calmed me down and helped me forget about my worries. When I was bored, you gave me something to do. When I relaxed with a book, you were there with me.

Oh, it was no problem when I was young, because my metabolism was high and my feet did not hurt when I walked. I was active, so you had little effect on me.

But as I got older, how you betrayed me! You put unhealthy pounds on me and geve me a BMI that is bordering on obese. Shame on you!

Of course, I can’t live without you in some form, but I have a new love. Fruits and veggies will take the place of chocolate and chips. Yogurt will suffice where ice cream used to reign.

Yes, our relationship is going to change, dear food. You will no longer be my crutch, but my assistant in the pursuit of good health.

You no longer control me, baby—I am in charge now!

Love and hate,

Jessy