One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my journey to regain my health is that willpower is not the answer. Willpower ebbs and flows. It is helpful at times, but a lot of times it is not enough to keep you putting one foot in front of the other to reach a goal.
I had gastric bypass surgery last Aug – but that only gave me a tool to help me on my journey back to health, it is not full proof and it still takes determination and doing the work necessary to make it happen. It was definitely the turning point in my life – I had struggled all my life starting back when I was 13 years to to lose 5 to 10 lbs (trying to be the perfect 120 lbs), until reaching my highest weight of 308 lbs in Jan. 2008.
One lesson I’ve learned is to NOT depend on will power – that comes and goes – it takes structure and rules. Every one needs to find what “rules” work for them, and know themselves well enough to know when or if a rule can be broken now and then or never.
Some of my rules are:
Drink lots of water and take high quality vitamins every day.
Don’t give up – plataeus will happen, but stick with it.
NO sugar at all ever! There are no exceptions to this.
ONLY 3 meals a day – no snacking ever!
No fat or very low fat items ONLY for items bought premade, but mostly cook simply and healthy at home
Plan ahead – for the week I know what I’m having for breakfast and lunch, and I have a basic dinner plan with a few options so I can easily pick and chose during the week.
Keep a food journal and record everything – it really really does make a difference – EVERYTHING is written in my food journal (a steno pad I keep next to the calendar in the dining room)
Eliminating trigger foods and addictive foods – if there is something I know I will crave if I taste it, I treat that food like a “drug” and I don’t have it – ever! (foods have been chemically manufactured to get us addicted to the salt, fats, etc. – so I just remind myself I don’t want to be controlled by any money grabbing company – and I stick with mostly fresh whole foods).
Following rules may seem a bit harsh at first – but really it isn’t. Once the addictions and cravings passed (about a month or two) – it’s a matter of putting myself and my health as my top priority and not instant gratification of a food item.
It’s sooooo worth it.
Currently Diet Pulpit is rarely updated. Lady Rose is now blogging at Blissful Moon, where she is staying healthy and continuing to have adventures, please stop by and visit.
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