It's funny how things you used to hate or at least claim to hate can suddenly become things you love and vice versa; from people to foods to activities. I used to HATE avocados, mushrooms, hummus, feta cheese and pineapple. Now those are some of my MOST favorite foods of all time. (I make a great homemade hummus using plain greek yogurt in place of a good portion of the olive oil) I loved pizza, mac and cheese, chips and queso, but now they are just ok. I don't hate them, but there not on my list of top 10 yummiest foods on Earth anymore. Hell probably not even in my top 20. I also used to say I hated exercise and was perfectly fine being lazy. The few times I did exercise and the once when I got really into it, I would always say "I hate running" or "I can't run because it hurts my ankles." Lies...all lies. Just being honest.
The truth is I never really gave it a fair shot. Most new habits you need to try more than 3 or 4 times before making a decision one way or the other. That's just my opinion and you know what they say about those!
I think part of the reason I "hated" it so much is because I was overweight. Due to the extra weight it really did hurt my back, ankles and knees, but if I had gone slower and worked my way into it instead of giving up, they probably would have quit hurting after a while.
"That bitch needs a sandwich!" was definitely coined by an overweight person.
Up until 1 short month ago, I was perfectly content to not exercise. I knew I needed to, I knew the health benefits, body benefits and emotional benefits, but I just didn't have the motivation. You see before I had the VSG surgery food and I were very good friends. Food, cigarettes and alcohol were my vices. Shopping was right up there at the top of the list too. But now the food thing is different. It's still a vice, just in a different form.
Pre-surgery food was my friend. Food was my best friend. If I was celebrating anything it meant there would be food. If I was upset or stressed, there would be food. If I was mad, I ate to numb myself. If I was interested in some relaxation, I would go to get a good meal by myself and read or peruse the net while I ate. Same goes for alcohol. I would go out for a meal and follow it with drinks. I would meet my friends for happy hour and bring snacks with me. Friday nights we would hang out with friends and I would get drunk, then talk my husband into a late night meal at Taqueria Aranda's or Denny's or this vietnamese place that was open late. Basically I came up with reasons why I needed to eat and drink. The difference is food is a necessity, but alcohol was an addiction. We are all addicted to food, we have to be, it's that or starve to death. The degree of our addiction is what separates us. Some people live to eat while others simply eat to live.
Post-surgery I still love to eat, love to cook and enjoy a good meal, but now it's not all I think about. I'm eating to live. Sure I have the cravings for certain foods and yes I eat junk food occasionally, but I also have learned the ability to tell myself no or to stop at 2 cookies. The problem with alcohol is that I was addicted. There is no 2 drinks and I'm good. It was all or nothing and I'm proud to say that as of the last 2 months it has been NOTHING. The cigarettes were tied to the alcohol, so when I quit drinking I quit smoking.
Without food or alcohol to spend my energy on. Without a best friend to turn to that was always available, I have had to find a new one. Unbelievably it has become exercising. My family, my friends and even myself were surprised at first, but after years of hating exercise and making up excuses why I couldn't, who could blame them.
I'm chasing that feeling. Which is what bothers me so much about NOT being able to workout. I feel sluggish, lazy, achy and I don't like the feeling. It's like switching from a flip-phone to a smartphone. Once you see what the other side is like you don't know how you lived without it and you don't EVER want to go back.
Do you eat to live or live to eat? What addictions have you overcome? What's the "story" behind your motivation for living a healthier life?
Can't wait for tomorrow to get here. So excited. LOL.
Got to run...