Weight...Doesn't every women worry or maybe even obsess about this?? I use to be one of those women. From a very young age, weight was an obsession for me. The desire to be thin and look good was always at the fore front of my mind. I'm assuming I got this from television or maybe even magazines. I can remember in the third grade documenting my weight in a journal and writing what I wish I would have weighed. Which is sad, really. A third grader should never even be thinking about weight.
As I got older, weight always consumed my thoughts. I had uncontrollable cravings and I'd always get so mad at myself when I 'gave in' to these cravings. My weight fluctuated constantly and I never felt as if I was in control of the weight battle, let alone my food. In one year I gained 40 pounds. I remember thinking of my next crash diet. I thought I was doing everything right. I was drinking diet coke and munching on 100 calorie packs and fat free cheese! I spent many nights crying myself to sleep over my weight. Looking back, the answer seemed so simple, but at the time I was caught up in a terrible eating lifestyle.
There's this big movement right now about embracing the big women we are (along with reality TV shows). I'm not sure how I feel about this. I truly believe we are in the middle of a health epidemic. So many people are overweight today because of the convenience food around them. Those foods are making us overweight. High Fructose Corn Syrup is in a lot of our processed food, which doesn't fill us up like it should and is so much more potent. In fact, HFCS makes us hungry (double whammy!). We really can't win when we ingest Corn Syrup - so, if weight is an issue for you, my advice would be - BACK AWAY FROM THE HFCS! :)
I tell you my weight struggle because I think a lot of people look at me and think I've always been thin and weight has never been an issue for me. That is so far from the truth. For the first time in my life, I feel completely in control of my food choices. In my last post I stated I no longer have food cravings. This has brought me so much freedom. I don't crave pretzels like I once did (pretzels use to be an obsession for me). I also HAD to eat chocolate. My husband and I would do ice cream runs 3-4 times a week. Who was in control?? Even though I thought I was, I most certainly was not.
By switching to a whole foods diet and cutting out gluten, we are happier and we feel better. I no longer look at the scale and wonder what number is going to pop up this time. I weigh myself about once a month just to check in. I eat what I want to eat without guilt. Since I no longer have cravings, I choose when I want to eat dessert or treat myself. Eating a piece of pie is such a treat for our family because we don't have that food around a lot. If I let Jackson get a cookie, that's probably one cookie or sweet treat he'll get all week.
I guess the whole purpose of this post is to let those of you who battle weight know that I KNOW what you are going through. I know what it's like to look at the scale and want to shed 20 pounds, but every time you weigh yourself that number doesn't move. I want to encourage you to look towards a lifestyle change rather than going on a diet. Start cutting out processed foods and focus on eating fruits and veggies (and no more HFCS!). Nourish your body with whole foods. If you don't know if it's a whole food ask yourself, "Did God make this?". There are no fruit roll up trees, my friends.
I felt very compelled to write this, so I'm sure there was a reason. Wishing you much health this Holiday week!
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Friday, November 18, 2011
Last November, we started a journey of better eating. I am so proud of how far we've come!! The Bear house is officially processed food free!
For many of you, this may seem impossible and not doable. In one year, we have taken baby steps to reach this point. This, dear readers, is VERY doable!! By eliminating one product or chemical at a time, we have progressed to where we are today. We still have a ways to go, but I am so proud at the progression that has taken place.
Our diet now consists of WHOLE FOODS - God made foods (fruits, veggies, and lean meats). It's so simple - it's hard :). I use to be obsessed with recipes, but now, I hardly ever use them. I've also learned that repeating meals weekly and biweekly is completely acceptable. My entire perception of food has changed!
I truly believe that the food we put in our bodies determines how well we live. I just read an article today entitled, America: In 10 Years You'll Be Fat. I think sometimes people take these articles offensively, but they shouldn't. There is so much truth in it! Americans need a wake up call and sometimes a slap in the face. We are in the middle of a health epidemic. People mock me (yeah, a little harsh, but true) when they see what I post about their cereals, their pizza and everyday "food". They have a tendency to think I'm over doing it. How can cereal really hurt us, right?
Here's the problem - we aren't eating bad once in-a-while. We are eating poorly everyday, for every meal, over a life time. Nine year olds are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This use to take a lifetime to get, now it takes us 9 short years. Food is in control of us. We have uncontrollable cravings and we are getting...I'll just say....FAT. Big, fat, stupid America, that's what we're becoming. We no longer know how to feed ourselves (crazy, right?).
I blame the food industry. They do a wonderful job marketing, TELLING us what's healthy. They tell us to eat this and that, and we believe them. We take what they say at face value and do not question them. STOP THE MADNESS!!
Since we went off processed food and cut gluten, we have been more in control of what we eat. We no longer have cravings and we are no longer slaves to food. Some may look at the way we eat and think they could NEVER do it and they'd be giving up to much. Oh, dear readers! We have GAINED more than we have lost. If our lifestyle was impossible, it would not be a lifestyle. We don't miss the frozen pizzas, cereal, crackers, cookies, chips...WE DON"T MISS THEM! We are functioning BETTER without those things and we will never go back.
I have a very sick extended family. Sadly, what I have to say falls on deaf ears. I can only control what we do, and we will continue doing what we're doing. I always love questions and will help when I can! Do not hesitate...this is my passion!
For many of you, this may seem impossible and not doable. In one year, we have taken baby steps to reach this point. This, dear readers, is VERY doable!! By eliminating one product or chemical at a time, we have progressed to where we are today. We still have a ways to go, but I am so proud at the progression that has taken place.
Our diet now consists of WHOLE FOODS - God made foods (fruits, veggies, and lean meats). It's so simple - it's hard :). I use to be obsessed with recipes, but now, I hardly ever use them. I've also learned that repeating meals weekly and biweekly is completely acceptable. My entire perception of food has changed!
I truly believe that the food we put in our bodies determines how well we live. I just read an article today entitled, America: In 10 Years You'll Be Fat. I think sometimes people take these articles offensively, but they shouldn't. There is so much truth in it! Americans need a wake up call and sometimes a slap in the face. We are in the middle of a health epidemic. People mock me (yeah, a little harsh, but true) when they see what I post about their cereals, their pizza and everyday "food". They have a tendency to think I'm over doing it. How can cereal really hurt us, right?
Here's the problem - we aren't eating bad once in-a-while. We are eating poorly everyday, for every meal, over a life time. Nine year olds are being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. This use to take a lifetime to get, now it takes us 9 short years. Food is in control of us. We have uncontrollable cravings and we are getting...I'll just say....FAT. Big, fat, stupid America, that's what we're becoming. We no longer know how to feed ourselves (crazy, right?).
I blame the food industry. They do a wonderful job marketing, TELLING us what's healthy. They tell us to eat this and that, and we believe them. We take what they say at face value and do not question them. STOP THE MADNESS!!
Since we went off processed food and cut gluten, we have been more in control of what we eat. We no longer have cravings and we are no longer slaves to food. Some may look at the way we eat and think they could NEVER do it and they'd be giving up to much. Oh, dear readers! We have GAINED more than we have lost. If our lifestyle was impossible, it would not be a lifestyle. We don't miss the frozen pizzas, cereal, crackers, cookies, chips...WE DON"T MISS THEM! We are functioning BETTER without those things and we will never go back.
I have a very sick extended family. Sadly, what I have to say falls on deaf ears. I can only control what we do, and we will continue doing what we're doing. I always love questions and will help when I can! Do not hesitate...this is my passion!
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