Stubbornness and Eating Habits of Our Lives

Yesterday, we had our craft show in Fort Madison. I had some conversations with several women about weight loss, and they mentioned a few things that I hadn't realized about myself.

Stubbornness and Eating Habits

One thing they mentioned was stubbornness. They talked about how we tend to hold on to our comfort foods and not want to give them up. For me, giving up soda was a major sacrifice, especially because it was my go-to comfort food when I had migraines. I suffer from migraines 17 to 25 days a month, and they are triggered by the weather. This weekend, I've been struggling with severe migraines due to the bad weather. I substituted my usual comfort food with chicken broth and peanut butter on soda crackers, but right now, I'm really craving some Sprite.

Losing weight requires sacrifice. I've given up a lot of things to reach my goal weight, but it's been worth it. One of the women mentioned that she couldn't give up soda, so she switched to diet soda. I explained to her that this isn't a healthier option. If you want to lose weight, you need to find healthier comfort foods.

They also talked about eating habits. One lady eats twice a day while the other eats three times a day, but it's recommended to have five small meals a day. During the show, I ordered a walking taco for lunch, and it took me two hours to finish it.

Then I did something I regretted. I ordered a piece of strawberry pie, even though I knew it was high in calories. However, I took two hours to eat it, so I felt the indulgence was justified. I had them pack the rest in a to-go container and put it in the cooler for half an hour. I've learned that the longer you take to eat your meal, the less you tend to eat. It also helps satisfy your cravings. I could have had whipped cream or ice cream with the pie, but I resisted the temptation.

Changing your habits is essential for a successful diet. Those old habits need to disappear for you to lose weight. There are tricks and help available to make this process easier.

Another topic that came up was portion size. When I went to get the pie, there was a heavy-set guy ahead of me who ordered two large taco meals. It was a huge plate of food, about five inches high, and he took it back to his booth for his heavy-set wife. It reminded me of my own past habits. You might tell yourself that it's okay to have a large serving because it's vegetables and meat, but it's still too much. You need to train yourself to have smaller portions.

You are in control of changing your eating habits. If you're not seeing progress with your current diet, take a look at what you're eating. Consider the nutritional value, portion sizes, and how long it takes you to finish your meals. Do you go back for seconds and still feel hungry? If so, try waiting 15 minutes before getting more food. Eventually, you'll realize that you're actually full.

I've faced many battles with myself, and I have my own demons to conquer. But every day, I see the difference. Last year, I struggled and sweated profusely while loading and unloading the van and setting up the displays. This year, it was much easier and faster. I didn't have the extra 140 pounds holding me back.

Have you ever thought about how much better your life would be if you lost weight? My husband recently told me, "When I look at you, I see two things: a China doll or a bull, and you better get the hell out of the way because she's coming through." This resonated with me. Nothing holds me back now.

Every day, I learn more about myself and weight loss. I'm finally sharing my biggest struggle publicly. The weight I am now is the same weight I was in high school, where I was often called fat. Now, everyone compliments me and tells me how great I look. But this has left me with a dilemma. I still see that fat person from high school when I look in the mirror. I'm determined to overcome this, and every day brings new insights.

I hope sharing my journey helps someone else. Good luck on your weight loss journey. You can do it!