Heifers, The Snack Place, and Proof at Last

Don't Keep it to Yourself
I feel like such a heifer. I had two bowls of Special K, 3 pieces of turkey bacon, a handful of popcorn, 5 peanut butter M&M's and like 3 pieces of licorice.

This immortal quote (spoken so eloquently by Alicia Silverstone as Cher in Clueless) has stayed with me through the years for it's brilliant poignancy. You may laugh and think I'm joking (and I might be just a little), but for the most part I'm serious. What is so special about this quote, about this moment captured in cinema?

How many of you have every downloaded your calories, your meals, your health to a close confidant? In a gush of shame word vomit, we spew the horrors of what we just ate onto another person in an attempt to dispel some of our guilt. We like to communicate our frustrations, we want consolation, we want to get encouragement to do better.

Update on My Progress
Where I last left off I was trying to escape the claws of sugar addiction and had started down a new path: eating protein with breakfast (in an attempt to curb cravings throughout the day) and keep a food journal. I'm not successful every day, but I'm working on it and getting better. And in a way this blog is the ultimate food journal. I get to take my simple daily observations and try to find patterns in my health and fitness.

The food journal is, I think, the most revolutionary part of a health and fitness plan. Because no matter what you choose to do, it's important to listen to what your body is telling you. We're all different and I've found it so helpful to write about it.

Today I ate healthy for the entire day. I made smart choices and felt positive all day. Many fruits and vegetables passed these lips. Some days I try to eat healthy and I end up feeling depressed, as though I was depriving myself. I tried very hard not to let that happen today. Everything I ate was tasty and delicious. It defeats the purpose if I don't enjoy what I'm eating. I know one day does not a global change make, but I can't tell you how long it's been since I've had a day that was this food savvy.

The biggest key to today? Not letting myself get too hungry. I found an interesting nugget in my sugar detox book that I'd like to share...it makes perfect sense. When we get hungry and our serotonin levels are low, we lose impulse control (well some of us). Have you ever eaten something and truly felt like you we're in control of the situation? You're in a daze and suddenly eating (and you don't care how unhealthy it is) takes over. Not everyone understands this, but I know some of you out there suffer from this problem. It's best to get something in your belly before you get to that point. As my co-workers say, don't go to the snack place. It's a dark place.

The Proof is in the Skiing
I'd like to leave you with something that inspired me, proof of a some true success, no matter how small. I've found that if I have evidence of my success, it helps keep me motivated. No, it hasn't been on the scale.

For two months now I've been working out 5-7 days a week. At the beginning of this year, I went skiing for the first time of the season with my friend Shaw. He, unlike me, has been skiing most of his life and it comes very easily to him. He's fast. I, on the other hand, am a much more cautious skier. I don't like barreling down the slope as fast as I can because 1) I have no control of what's going on at that speed and 2) I actually enjoy making turns. I love turns. I love the challenge of skiing with turns. However, as you might imagine, this slower pace tends to require more muscle control. I remember with perfect clarity this first ski trip of the year. Shaw'd ski on ahead and wait for me. When I'd catch up, he'd be ready to go...I'd shake my head in despair, my breathing labored, my tongue practically hanging out. My thighs felt like they were on fire. By the end of the half day, I was exhausted and practically comatose.

Fast forward to last weekend. Shaw and I took another trip up to the mountains for a half day of skiing and on not ONE of my runs down the mountain did I have to stop. Not one. And I barely felt the burn in my thighs. Well I could at least power through it. And at the end of the day as I packed all my gear back into my Forester, I felt a little glow in my heart. Joy, pride, accomplishment. The first hour of our ride home I chatted Shaw's ear off, riding the wave of my endorphin high.