The Climb to the Top

Sometimes I feel as if I am swimming upstream in a world of unhealthy living.  For those of you who try to do things to be healthier, but always sneak back into your old ways, remember this is a process.  For an “all or nothing” girl like me, this can be a very difficult concept.  I do not always practice what I preach; and there are many reasons—excuses, no, but reasons, yes.  Although this can be frustrating, I refuse to give up. I will continue to climb that hill, knowing that the view on top is spectacular!  Here are just a few of the detours that get in my way:

1.      First of all, I am trying to undo at least 56 years of my life’s eating habits.  I do not know how accurate the “56” is, because I have been on this journey for at least 20 years or more, but for at least the first 30 years of my life, I was prone to eat the traditional meat and potatoes meal, sandwiches for lunch and eggs and bacon or cereal for breakfast.  This is what became comfortable for me.  I have a lot of warm family memories associated with fried chicken, pork chops and mashed potatoes—oh and Mom’s homemade apple dumplings!

2.    When the going gets rough and I get tired or lazy, I tend to revert back to what is familiar (somewhat) and easy.  When I am at the store, it is easy to buy the things I already know how to make, rather than taking the time to flip through the vegetarian recipe books and write down all the ingredients to buy things unknown or strange.  To change a habit, it must be replaced with another healthier habit; it is time consuming, and it takes dedication.

3.    There is lack of support from friends, family and the rest of the world.  When you feel like you are “marching to the beat of a different drum”, it makes it more difficult when everyone else is not following your “drumbeat”.   I have a weakness for certain foods that I keep out of my house; because certainly in a weak moment, I will cave; however, when I am at the home of a friend or family member that has all my favorite “junky foods”, I can be like a dog out of my cage and eat as if it were my last meal.  When I am in that frame of mind, no amount of reasoning helps.  I am like a kid at a candy jar whose fleshly appetites have taken control.

4.    Eating out -breakfast.  My husband will laugh at this one, because one of my major concerns at a restaurant is the bread.  Is it the fake whole wheat that is white bread with caramel coloring?  Is it white bread with a little wheat added?  Is it stone-ground whole wheat with some softener added?  Or is just a good, hearty piece of whole grain bread?  The latter is very rare and since toast is my usual choice for breakfast, this can ruin my entire day!  Pancakes are usually out of the question.  Have you ever had a whole grain pancake?  Well let me tell you, it is superior to any of those fluffy, white pancakes that bloat you for the rest of the day.  Good luck finding a restaurant that serves whole grain pancakes!  Oh, I almost forgot the tea.  Where can you go and order herbal or green tea for breakfast?  See, even before my day begins (if we are eating out), I have a problem.  So I either have to compromise or bring my own tea and a Cliff Bar.  One day, I might try to bring my Ezekiel bread and ask if they can toast it for me!

5.    Eating out-lunch or dinner.  Where can you go to get a nice salad with organic meat and some organic dressing, or maybe just dressing without MSG?  More restaurants are serving different leafy greens, but most of them will give you a bowl of iceberg lettuce with a few carrot shreds and call it a salad.  If I am in a hurry, where are the healthy fast-food restaurants?  Hamburgers made with beef and ammonia, French fries, maybe a Chic Filet sandwich loaded with MSG? Now I know I am being dramatic, and there are healthier options at these restaurants; but in a weak moment, once I walk in the door with the intention of ordering a salad and grilled chicken, I smell the fries, my appetite takes over and I am, again, giving into temptation.  Even when I choose a vegetable plate, the vegetables are so overcooked, overseasoned, and overgreased that I wonder if white bread might not be healthier!

6.    Or what about cooking for loved ones who do not share your desire for veggies and quinoa?  Or attending meals made by others and learning how to be gracious and thankful? 

7.    When I am tired, anxious and/or stressed, I grab for the comfort food.  No amount of fruit or nuts will do.  I need good ole chemically-laden, sugar-filled, and/or salty food to ease my pain.  This is what I do; for some people it is alcohol or cigarettes; for me, it is food.

These are just some of the things that make this journey hard; but as I mentioned earlier, I will keep climbing.  I am not a failure if I keep trying.  My “good” moments are beginning to outweigh the “bad”.  I feel so much better physically and mentally when I do what I know are the better things.  The older I get, the more that means to me.  Because you see, what we do now sets the stage for the future of our health.  Every time we eat a little healthier, it puts a little in our “health” account.  Every time we don’t, it takes a little out.  When the healthier meals outweigh the “yucky” stuff, then we have made progress.  So do not beat up on yourself if you are not perfect—do the best you can and keep trying.  Those little things will add up.  Recognize your roadblocks, learn all you can about healthy eating; take the time to be prepared; have a plan; most of the time, my plan works for me, but there are times it does not; and I just put it behind me because—tomorrow’s another day.

From my heart to your health,

Debby