New Blog Name!

As I was talking with a friend over Facebook yesterday about different sweeteners, I happened upon this phrasing in my thoughts: The long haul to healthy. And it struck me - Yes! That is a great way to define the journey that I feel this process to be. It really is about creating new habits and a new lifestyle and that takes time to establish.

So today, in honor of that, I wanted to share a few insights I feel I've learned during my journey so far:
- The difference between self-control and self-discipline... Self-control makes me not eat that cookie. Self-discipline makes me get up and go to the gym. Self-control is about NOT doing, while self-discipline is about the DOING.
- It feels good to be strong. Really good.
- You have to clear a space in your mind for food decisions. Being a mindful eater takes conscious awareness. (Check out the book, "Eating Mindfully" by Dr. Susan Albers if the idea of mindful eating resonates with you.)
- I can still enjoy social eating and don't have to close myself off from that. I can bring my own food choices or choose not to eat at the function and not feel uncomfortable about it, nor do I need to make the ones I'm eating with feel bad about their food choices. We are all in different places on our journey.
- Eating properly (healthy choices with portion control) makes more difference in weight loss than exercising. Exercising is still a key component to the overall goal of being fit, and definitely makes a difference in the long run, but diet is what has made the difference for me in taking the weight off. Even with 4-5 kick-butt hour-long workouts a week, if I eat a 2,000 calorie diet, those workouts simply help me maintain my weight and not gain. For weight LOSS I need to change my eating.
- FEAR = False Evidence Appearing Real. I borrowed that from one of my Dad's old sermon illustrations, but it applies so well to my weight loss journey. If I convince myself (with false evidence) that I won't be able to do something, or fear doing it for the possibility of failure, I have condemned myself to that failure by not even trying. I once said I didn't like to work out... now I love it like crazy. I once said I couldn't ever give up my morning coffee... the lemon water sitting in front of me right now says differently. I once said... a lot of things. But if I wouldn't have kicked those false opinions to the curb and opened myself up to trying different things - to BEING a different person - I never would have stretched and grown into the abilities I have today. (What false evidence do you condemn yourself with that you need to shake off to make healthier choices?)

I hope some of those insights give you encouragement or motivation in YOUR journey. Stay tuned tomorrow for two great ways to eat eggs for breakfast!