Get Fit: My Diet

 In college, I worked for a health freak.  He really was a great guy and an EXTREMELY generous boss, and he was freakishly committed to helping people get healthy, even if they had no interest in it (like most of us in the office).  Kristin used to come back from lunch with her Dr. Pepper, and he used to say, "You know, Kristin, that phosphoric acid from that Dr. Pepper is going to eat your stomach inside out."  Eww.  He would bring us carrot juice (which actually isn't bad) from the Juice Stop.  He would bring us fresh fruit - apples, grapes, pineapple - in the mornings.  Sometimes he would bring us seed mixtures (sesame seeds, sunflower seeds...okay, those are the only two seeds I know - but there were others) mixed with almond milk.  He would insist that we only drink reverse-osmosis water while at work.  He gave me a bottle of (what I'm sure were expensive) probiotics to take every morning.  He hated milk.  He used to say "We are the only species on the planet that drinks milk after weaning," and "We are the only species on the planet that drinks the milk of another species." And so on and so on...you get it.

He bought us all copies of the book Eat to Live by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.  And according to him, this book was (nearly) on par with the Bible, folks.  I can't tell you how many times I heard him recommend Dr. F's book to clients on the phone during the work day.  I read it (well, read parts of it, skimmed the rest) and, as much as I loved to roll my eyes, it made sense.  So when one of my co-workers invited me to join her in the Eat to Live diet, I said, sure - why not?  I'm a little thicker than I'd like to be - bring it on!  And on it came.  The diet is basically this: you eat plant-based foods.  And plant based foods only.  Since plant based foods were nowhere to be found in my diet, I noticed a change immediately.  I had more energy, my poop started floating (is that okay to say?), and weight started literally falling off.  Literally.  I believe this was the key to my success - results were immediate.  In the first twenty-four hours I lost one pound.  By the end of the week I had lost six.  My face was thinner.  My pants were looser.  People were commenting.  A few weeks after I started the diet I was in a wedding and my dress no longer fit.  My mom had to alter it down for me.  I couldn't believe it.  I felt so good that the uber-strictness of the diet didn't even matter.  And I got to where I actually liked it.  Broccoli, which I had always hated, became a friend.  Romaine lettuce and spinach, too.  I ate fresh green beans - I don't think I even know they didn't have to come in a can!

In two months (March to May), I had lost nearly 25 pounds - down to 147, a size 8!  At the end of May I left on a two week trip to South Africa with a big group.  Since we were in a big group, I didn't always have a choice about what food I was served, and being in a different culture and wanting desperately to not inconvenience or offend, I began to relapse.  When we got back to the states, I had gained two pounds.  I thought that was pretty good for two weeks of eating whatever I wanted!  But the spell had been broken, and I returned to my old ways, and thus, my old weight.

And now, post two kids, I am heavier than I have ever been.  Some day in the future I might post that number, but not now while it's still reality.  This does not make me miserable.  I don't find my worth in my size, so that's not what is motivating me.  I am motivated by a few basic factors:

1. 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 says, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price.  Therefore honor God with your bodies."  I used to think this verse meant don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't have sex if you aren't married - and while I think it does mean those things,  I think it also means you should take care of your body.  Don't abuse it by filling it full of crap and lying around all the time.
2. My size is a direct reflection of my health.  My health is essential, not just for me, but for my husband and children.  I need to stay as healthy as possible.
3. I'd like to look good.  There are lots of outfits and styles I can't wear because of my size.  I'd like to be able to wear them.
4. My dad once told me it was important to look nice in public because the way I looked reflected on my husband.  At the time I blew him off (and took a little offense...what was he saying??) but now I think I understand what he meant.  I would like my physical appearance to reflect well on my husband.  He's smokin' hot.  He deserves a smokin' hot wife.

I'm going to adopt the same plan again for weight loss.  In fact, I don't officially start until Saturday, but I went ahead and got a jump on things and started Tuesday.  I can't believe how easy it's been!  I think part of it is the fact that I simply don't have time to think about food - I'm too busy chasing my kids around.  I don't think about how good a bowl of cereal sounds, or Chinese, or a burger (though I did spring for a veggie burger the other night).

I bought a scale today.  I'll keep you posted. :)