It's ironic that my name is Debbie because I was raised on Little Debbie Snack Cakes. Growing up, my siblings and I each had our own color-coded Tupperware container to store our sugary treats. My love of sugar goes way back. I remember paying my mom 2 quarters to add Cool Whip to her grocery shopping list to have my very own tub to enjoy.
I still love sugar. So before you start assuming that this is a How To Stop Eating Sugar info session, let me be clear that my roots run deep. I have yet to "arrive" with my nutrition. I suffer from temptation, emotional eating, and food lust. I like to think that all this keeps me humble.
I know how to pose for pictures to appear slimmer and I try to dress to cover my flaws. I couldn't count how many selfies I've deleted. I have cellulite and stretch marks and areas of my body that I wish had less fat.
I confess all this for two reasons: selfishly, it's therapeutic; and because I want you to know that I GET where you are.
I know that we sigh when pants are too tight, that bathing suits reveal a winter body instead of a summer body, and that there is yet to be a magic pill. We hope that one day salads and water will be as satisfying as a candy bar and coke.
Remember, all this keeps us humble. And human.
Having been on my health journey for about 7 years now, I have learned a lot. Some of it in the "classroom" and even more on the "field trip." I know the power of food and the far more powerful emotions tied to it. I know that knowing and doing are not the same. I know that body change is hard and involves our hands and our hearts.
I celebrate the small victories and encourage you to do the same.
More water. More vegetables. More exercise. More sleep. Less stress. Less junk.
Every bit of it counts. And the effects seem to snowball.
4 cups of water becomes 5. One serving of vegetables becomes two. A 10 minute walk becomes 13 minutes.
Do I now buy Cool Whip? No. And I don't miss it.
Do I fantasize about Taco Bell? Weekly. But I've learned to say "no" more often than "yes."
Change IS possible. Check out my I AM AN ADDICT post about how I know that to be true. Keep encouraging yourself by remembering how far you've come. Yeah, you'll keep screwing up (I ate Lucky Charms last week), but there is no turning back. All this "health stuff" matters and your body is grateful, even if no one has offered you a swimsuit cover (yet).
You're learning how strong you are, how empowering it can be to say "no" to a bread basket, and that every decision made to prevent disease is genius.
So now I turn to you. If there was a hidden camera in your home, what #1 habit would stand out to you that you need help with? That's STEP 1.
What is the ONE thing that you could start focusing on so that you experience change?
And while we're on the topic of Y-O-U, how can I help you? What do you need? I'd love to have a conversation with you about it.
I'm gonna go make a massive salad instead of hitting that drive-thru down the street.