A healthy attitude about food...

kms1104

Put this in my blog, but wanted to share with people who aren't my "friend" and may not see my blog.

Since I've been more serious about MFP, I've noticed many people feeling badly when they eat sweets, or carbs, etc. but they are exercising and eating well overall.

I'm not trying to be insensitve to anyone's goal, and obviously overdoing it is not healthy, but as everyone says, cutting foods out of your diet completely that you enjoy is not healthy either.

If you're genuinely beating yourself up because you enjoyed an evening treat, then you are not happy, and your diet will not stick. I'm not an expert by any means, but I DO have experience with health issues. I have been all over the scale (within a 30lb range), and eventhough I still have about 10-20 lbs to go, I'm okay with myself because I'm feeling HEALTHIER. Here's what I've learned:

1st: Remember exercise is KEY. MFP has truely shown me that. As long as I exercise, I'm basically able to eat what I would normally have eaten with my smarter choices. Yesterday is a prime example. I started feeling guilty about lunch, so I worked out... ended up with a glass of wine and a brownie for night time and STILL under goal.

2nd: Make SMARTER CHOICES. For example:

I HAVE to have something sweet in the evening after dinner. I have found 3-4 desserts that I enjoy and are lower calorie than others but are WAY more satisfying than "diet food". (Mounds and York Peppermint Patty ice cream bars are both under 200 calories, and Klondike makes 100 calorie bars... also I LOVE this brand of dark chocolate covered bananas in one of the grocery stores I frequent.) I'm not depriving myself, but it's MUCH better than a McFlurry or Dariy Queen trip because I do not have these options in my home.


I LOVE LOVE LOVE pasta, and my low end budget makes it neccessary for me to eat it. I switch to whole wheat pasta, mix up sauces, and throw spinach in with it, or have a side salad. I ditch the garlic bread (which used to be a staple side w/a spaghetti dinner). I also stopped breading chicken unless it's a special treat during my italian dinners.


My whole LIFE I've had sandwiches for lunch. I recently left a delicious bread behind because even though it's whole wheat, it was 100 calories PER SLICE. I found I like the 100 calorie whole wheat sandwhich rounds and found a turkey that I genuinely LIKE (cracked pepper turkey...mmm), instead of salami, roast beef, etc.


I work two jobs during the school year, and don't get home until 8pm on some nights. Realistically, it's fast food, or frozen food... I found that the French Bread microwavable pizzas are MUCH better than others calorie wise, and much better than a quarter pounder meal... still they let me indulge after a LONG and stressful day. If I have the extra cash to eat fast food, I opt for the grilled chicken (a zillion less calories/fat).
You guys get the point.

I went through a dangerous, unhappy phase in college where I was not emotionally well, and was SUPER obsessed with eating healthy. I looked anorexic, and even though I knew I WAS healthy in my body, and knew I was skinny... the obsession took over. Very simply- it wasn't healthy.

I know that I've gone through ups and downs of how healthy I've eaten since. I think I'm doing awesome, and it FEELS good! It will last through the school year because I've played around with options that are still SATIFYING to my appetite and pallet. It may take time, but look for what you still like.

Basically, it breaks my heart to see some of you so upset with yourself because you ate something you enjoy. I want for everyone of you to meet your goal and stick to feeling great. We are here to feel BETTER about ourselves. I know it's corny but being healthy means being healthy mind, body, and soul. Just because you're thin, doesn't make you healthy, and those who have a little meat on their bones are not neccessarily unhealthier.

My life has tested and tried each area of health. I feel like (at 28...still 4 months till 29), I finally have a grasp on what health is. Yes, you'll have to say no to some foods in order to meet your goals, but don't torture yourself... and EXERCISE...

Okay... off my soap box.