The Ugly Truth.

One of the first words we learn, recognize and use is "No." Primarily because we hear it more than most other words; young children often get into things they shouldn't: "No, don't eat that, that's yucky." "Morgan no! You'll break it if you touch it." "Morgan thats a No-no." We learn from the word no, but it is also a parents' nightmare when their child learns the word too. "Morgan please sit in your chair" Me: "NO! NO NO NO!" It's a way of teaching and way of retaliation. They say no, so we say no, and keep doing what we want. As humans, we typically want most what we can't have. As kids, when we can't touch the shiny crystal vase, we want to even more. As adults, it's much more complex.

In regards to food, we often want most what we are convinced we "can't have," or at the very least are told we shouldn't have. Our taste buds crave salt, sugar, and fat - nutrients produced in mass quantities and advertised in the most appealing ways - with an endless supply at our fingertips. It is a dangerous game. It doesn't help that we have created an infinite amount of occasions to eat: aside from breakfast, lunch, dinner and our snacks, we eat on our break, we eat because there is morning traffic, we eat cup cakes because it is our co-workers birthday (even though we don't know how old they are, or their last name), we eat dessert because we just ate a meal, we eat appetizers because or waiter offered, we empty the bread basket because it is in front of us, we eat because it's summer, we eat because it's cold, we eat when we're bored, sad, happy, tired, or annoyed. Food is no longer just our fuel, it is our drug. If we go too long without a fix, we fall apart - how powerless must we feel when we cannot control what we physically put in our mouths ourselves? Pretty useless. When in reality, WE are in control. It is our decision to ingest whatever we choose, whether that be celery sticks and natural peanut butter or an entire super-size bag of reese's peanut butter cups; we are the one's that must live with the consequences of our decision, and there are, indeed, consequences. Weight gain, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer, and a plethora of other complications are the result of continuous, momentary decisions. If we repeatedly decide to eat crap and too much of it, we will feel like crap; that could range from a tummy ache to a heart attack, but let's avoid it all in general.

My challenge to myself, and everyone that reads this today is to make the better choice. Do not focus on the rest of your life, or all the things you "won't get to have," but focus on your next choice, and take each one at a time, because for most of us, that is all we can handle. Choose almonds instead of a snicker's the next time you need a snack. Decide that you do not *need* dessert, and sip on water or munch sugar free gum instead. YOU are in control of the foods you eat; stop letting it overpower you.

Now, to be completely honest with all of you, and prove once again that I am an imperfect human being as well, I will share with you the Ugly Truth of my less-than-ideal food choices of the day displayed in my Food Log #2 below:

#1 - 9:00 am - Protein Shake - 8 oz. Very Vanilla Soy Milk + 1 rounded scoop whey protein + 1 scoop Amazing Grass + 8 frozen strawberries, blended (320 calories)

#2 - 2:00 pm - 1 Oroweat sandwich thin + 1 tsp sundried tomato pesto + 2 tsp genova pesto + 1.5 oz low-sodium turkey breast + 1/2 cup spinach + 1 slice lite havarti + 4 oz unsweetened organic  apple sauce + 1/10 of a cantaloupe (485 calories)

#3 - 5:30 pm - 5 oz. pot roast + 2.5 whole carrots, slow cooked + 1/2 cup zucchini (450 calories)

#4 - 8:00 pm - 2/3 cup slow churned mint chocolate chip ice cream + 3 home made, warm, buttery brownies (a lot of calories, a lot of fat, a lot of sugar and a lot of sodium)


My meals were all acceptably decent until the dessert. Normally my serving size would not be so great for a dessert, however, brownies an ice cream are one of my favorites, and this just happened to be my favorite brownie recipe. Also, as I am running a half-marathon in 76 days, I have decided it would be in my body's best interest (especially my digestive system's) not to consume any dessert until after the run. So tonight was my last "Hoorah" for the next 10 weeks.
I know my stomach will thank me, I know I will be incredibly tempted, but I also know the results and feelings of accomplishment greatly outweigh any sacrifice I will be making. Besides, it's just a brownie :-)


"The greatest barrier to success is fear of failure" --  Sven Goran Eriksson quotes

Remember: Giving up is not an option.