HEALTHY EATING BY TRIAL AND ERROR

Alternate title: The day that lady called me fat.

I mentioned yesterday that I have not always enjoyed exercise. The same is true for maintaining healthy eating habits.  Truth be told, I have always enjoyed healthy foods. The problem is eating ONLY healthy foods. I can eat salad and veggies and fruit and lean protein, and be very happy. The next day I might be equally happy eating burgers and fries and milkshakes.

After high school, I gained some weight. Ahem… quite a bit in fact. I was eating a lot of fast food and exercising rarely, so it was bound to happen. After college, though, it was time to lose the pounds. I knew it, but here is my “turning point” story:

I had started dating my husband-to-be, and he is one of those guys who can eat everything in sight and never gain weight. Jerk. Anyhow, one evening we hung out with one of his coworkers and wife. They were similar to us in that she was a bit heavy and he was not. The wife, a really sweet girl with the best of intentions, asked me if I ever hoped that our future children would not have weight issues, as a combination of Jeremy (has to work to gain weight) and myself (fatty fatty two by four).

Basically, she called me fat. Guess what? I was. This lovely woman just didn’t realize that I didn’t KNOW how overweight I was. Sheesh. It was TIME to lose some weight!

First, I tried working out. I’ll just wake up early, I thought, and run or do sit-ups or something. This plan worked perfectly… until the alarm clock went off the first morning. Fail.

Next, I tried eating basically nothing. This also worked great until, you know, lunch. Fail.

Finally, I discovered Weight Watchers. I am in no way being compensated by Weight Watchers, but for me it worked beautifully. I was able to eat whatever I wanted, as long as I stayed within my “points.” Basically, I just learned the simple difference between eating a treat because I really, really wanted it and eating a treat because it was there. That, plus a little portion control, and I was in business.

(Is this cookie really worth it?) (For the record, yes I finished it)

I lost close to 40 pounds in a relatively short (though safe) period of time.

After delivering each of my children, I’ve gone back to Weight Watchers to lose the weight safely. They have a special program for breast feeding moms, so it was perfect.

I’m not currently an “active” member, but I do follow the principles most days Importantly, I now know HOW to gain control of my weight when it starts heading in the wrong direction!

I’m certainly not perfect in terms of healthy eating. In fact, just this week my boss commented on my lunch of Diet Pepsi and chocolate eggs. I did, however, follow it up with a healthy dinner ~ better than nothin’ right?

Whole Foods Market Gift Card Entry

Wednesday’s Whole Foods Market Gift Card entry – go back to MONDAY’S POST, and leave a comment answering Wednesday’s question: Do you (or have you in the past) diet? What does and/or doesn’t work for you for healthy eating?

Remember, please answer the above question on MONDAY’S POST to be entered for the gift card (I’m disabling comments on today’s post because you have to answer this question in Monday’s comment area. Make sense?). You have until Friday to reply to each post during Health and Fitness week, and I will pick a winner (Random.org) on Saturday! Good luck, and go get fit!

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Don’t forget that Whole Foods in Scottsdale is having a fun event this Saturday, May 22. Felipe and Sione Fa, from Season 7 of “The Biggest Loser” will be at the store from 11AM to 3PM to share their tips for eating right and staying healthy.