Discipline

I have tried to lose weight before now. About a year ago, I tried to develop a "plan" to lose weight and to really give it a try. What I did instead was try to eat less without making sure that I actually did eat less. The result is that I lost a little bit during the short term and really went know where in the long. In the end I lacked discipline.

Discipline is not to be found in "winging it" is what I have discovered. For me, the only possible solution is to rigidly structure when I eat and to set a threshold for how much I eat. In the case of my current diet, I eat 3 meals a day and allow myself a snack of 1 oz almonds. In my meals I try to eat about 3 oz of lean protein and another 3-8 ounces of vegetables depending on how hungry I am. I make sure that if the vegetable that I choose does not supply at least some natural sugar, that I squeeze some lime juice or lemon juice onto something on my plate. I believe that our bodies have evolved to make use of the raw forms of food on the planet. While a low carb diet -is- working for me, it would be ridiculous to reject carbs out of hand, because we need them for a reason. I have found that a little natural sugar in whatever I'm eating, combined with low carb, high protein leaves me feeling more satisfied in what I eat.

Cabbage is an Awesome example, it contains some natural sugar, and I have abandoned most other leafy greens, because cabbage makes me feel like I have eaten something substantial (mostly I use it as a "wrap" for whatever I am eating at the time). Cabbage also contains huge doses of vitamin K and C and even has about a gram and a quarter of protein per 100g serving. Whatta champ.

But, I digress. I find it much easier to curtail my overeating if I plan my meals in advance. I know what I am going to have for breakfast, lunch and dinner tomorrow, and I know the portion sizes of my meal tonight and etc. This rigid structure keeps me in check, if I follow the frame work, I may still be tempted to take some twizzlers off of my wife's desk, but I know that I am not going to. Partly because, I have told you that I am not going to, but mostly because I am following the plan for the day, and baby, twizzlers aren't on it. Food has been a source of entertainment for me all of my life. I wish that I had understood this before, but better late than never. Now, I must transition food into a necessary part of my day, perhaps one that I do -really- enjoy but not something to do in my spare time. I believe that this change in attitude might make me successful.

To my brothers and sisters out there who are hurting because they just polished off the last of the ice cream, or realized too late that they can no longer see their feet without making an effort, I feel you today. I encourage you to take an honest look at why you eat. Yes, I know that you like the taste of it and the action of it, but what motivates you to eat? For me, it is boredom, for others eating is how they cope with highs and lows in emotion; what drives you, and then examine whether that is a healthy relationship to have with your dinner.

American Fattie

-375.4-