Donna Lea Dyck

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The Snacking Nightmare Needs to Stop!

 


The other day I stepped on the scale and almost had a heart attack. When courage overtakes me and I step on the scale, it is first thing in the morning and with no clothes on of course. My snacking has caught up with me I am afraid.

There are millions of diet books out there, programs you can join, the truth is, we know what needs to happen. Chips and chocolate, two of my favorite foods that I hope God has in heaven, do contain alot of calories. How is it that we humans can figure out how to land people on the moon but can't make decent low calorie good tasting chips or chocolate? There is the baked chips... I know. I tried them, no thank you. I want the real deal please. Kettle chips if you must know. 

Diets work as long as you are on them, we all know this, especially if you actually follow it. Then the wieght comes off and we go back to the way of LBD- Life Before Diet. What we need is just new smarter habits, at least that is what I need.

Any way, back to my idea. I read this article by this guy who learned to stop complaining. Also a good idea, but not for this time. He put a special band on his wrist that said something inspirational on it about not complaining. Everytime he complains he switches the band from one wrist to the other. The goal,is to keep the band on the same wrist. This worked for him. It took some time because he was good at complaining as many of us are, sadly.

Well, who says we cannot try his idea on snacking? Grab an elastic band that is not too small, every time you snack on something that God did not grow on a tree, in the ground or on a vine, you need to switch wrists. Chips do not grow in the ground even if they were originally a potatoe. Chocolate, unless it is the 70% dark chocolate kind and you can manage just a peice, really the rest of it is just going to add to calories you are trying to not add to your day.

I am a terrible snacker. I eat healthy meals. I don't drink alot of pop, and drink a resonable amount of water. My problem really is snacking. Desserts every night is bad also. It does not help that my husband who is a runner, is the pretty much the same perfect wieght as the day I married him, and that was more then two weeks ago- try 31 years ago! He can eat ANYTHING and it changes nothing!

I am on day 4 of not snacking on bad things- mostly not snacking. I am trying to stick to fruit - it is a novel idea I know. So, we shall see. I need to look amazing by the time my youngest son Michael gets married in June. So, I have time to create a new smarter habit I can live with and not just for a few months, but until God calls me home. 

There is this thing called "Mindful eating". I have not read alot on this, but I do get the idea. You need to think about what you are eating. When snacking, the only thought I have is I want it and I want it now. Stepping on the scale really bugged me though. I am not looking to be size 6. That would require being dead I think. If I can just fit my clothes better and not cringe when I look in the mirror, I will be happy. I need to know when enough is enough. 

My kids say "Mom you look great now!" and I appreciate that. However, I just need to take better care of myself, eating better is a good start. Going to the gym is a good idea. That is another conversation. 

I will let you know next week how I am doing. If you want to join me in this anti-snacking on bad things campaign, please let me know. It is always nice to know I have company on these journies. Thanks for reading.