Coffee I Need...

Four years ago, I embarked on a journey of self-improvement, self-discovery and most of all...self-love!  I was at a point in my life where I was absolutely miserable, but couldn't really put my finger on why.  Through support of friends and family, I found myself wanting to move forward with my life...it occurred that I was spending a lot of time spinning and spinning and not really going anywhere, but getting dizzy really fast!

I lost some weight, which gave me the motivation and courage to make some other changes in my life.  I found that it was just a little more than intake and output.  I had to look at the reasons why I was consuming twice the calories that I was burning... and then decide if or when I needed to burn any of those calories.  Once I got that worked out, I was ready to take the next step.  I cut the calories by cutting out sweets and white flour...that left only carrots and celery.  One can shed quite a few pounds living off of carrots and celery!  Okay, I'll come clean!  I was still eating protein, grains and tons of fruits along with the carrots and celery!

As the pounds began to fall off, I decided to see if I could make some more changes.  I had substituted whole wheat for my flour addiction, but the wheat was beginning to wreak havoc on my digestive system...probably because it didn't have the refined sugar to balance it out!  (This is my professional opinion!) So I began to understand what gluten free meant...give up a bunch of really tasty things so I don't have to pay for it later!


As time passed, I found more and more foods that just didn't want to behave as they worked their way through my intricate plumbing, so I said goodbye to a few more things.  I have been blessed to have found a balance of the right foods, mixed with five gallons of water, and 20 dog walks a day.  Stuff works for me now!

The one addiction/vice/fix/monkey-on-my-back that I will never give up is the almighty cup of Joe! I live for the aroma, the warmth and the smile that it brings to me...exactly 30 minutes after I take my thyroid medication each morning!  I will lie, cheat and kill for this addiction.  Nothing makes me feel more human than my 12 cups a day of unadulterated caffeine.  My Will even has a clause that states that as I am breathing my final breath, there must be coffee administered along with my Last Rites.  When I go, I want to go with a big caffeinated smile, teeth stains and all!

This post has been brought to you by Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop.  Please grab a cup of coffee, click on the link and enjoy the personal tributes from her many gifted writer-friends!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

My Body, Your Body, Any Body!

So, I was thinking the other day, how can I get myself motivated so that I can motivate others? I subscribe to several weight management (I don't like to call it "weight loss" because I don't always lose weight) newsletters which, for some reason, (probably the Big Guy up there trying to drop a few hints to me) seem to be quite interesting and helpful. I found the following quote from a newsletter I receive from Bob Greene.

"I know that I became overweight because I was out of touch with my body and because I had developed a food addiction. Now, I'm constantly checking in with my body to determine whether I want to eat because of hunger or because I have some emotion that I want to avoid. To me, health means having a healthy relationship with my body and that means nurturing it and not abusing it, and enjoying what I eat. To nurture my body is to feed it foods that will give me energy and nutrients."

Emotional eating....hit the nail two feet into the wood for me! I very rarely eat because I am hungry...I am hardly ever hungry. I love food! I really love sweet things, and eating sweet things can sometimes be a full-time job for me! I try not to think about anything while I'm eating. That's my problem! While I chew and savor, my mind is on the food and nothing else. Food is my "happy place" that I go to when I need a break from reality. The problem with that is, I spend most of my time on break and very little time dealing with real things. And, boys and girls, can you tell me where this kind of thinking takes one? Duh......

So, let's get that healthy relationship with food that was mentioned above. Telling myself that I ONLY WANT food that is going to nuture me and give me energy, will be one of the hardest things to do. Sugar gives me energy, and I feel nutured whenever I eat chocolate. So what's the big deal? Maybe, just maybe, I could think about making substitutions here and there. Ya think? Grapes are sweet, sort of like sugar, and they don't signal the brain to eat mass quantities like some cookies or candy will. Brushing hair is a form of nurturing, so are manis and pedis, no? Do ya think I could come up with a solid or a liquid that actually made me feel loved? It's possible that picturing water going through my body and picking up the gunk so I can "eliminate" it, could be a form of loving myself.

But, let's not get carried away here, Missy! We don't want to get a big head, now! I've spent almost my whole life abusing myself with food! It ain't gonna change overnight! "BUT I WANT IT NOW!!!" cried Verushka. "Patience, my dear!" If I can manage to substitute "healthy" and "nurturing" foods for the processed, sugary junk to which I have become accustomed, maybe...just maybe I could learn a little patience instead of stomping my feet and demanding immediate results. Wow! What a concept!

They say it takes 21 to 30 days to change a habit. Well here goes.....