This Whole Diet Thing

Since I went to the doctor earlier this week, I have been thinking a lot about this whole diet thing. I suppose I should start off by stating I no longer diet. Not for any reason. I pretty much ruined my metabolism when I was young with one extended starvation diet after another. I have literally lost entire people, but they always seem to find their way back and they always bring friends.

Some time a few years ago, I made the decision to never diet again. I have lived with that since and am happy with the decision. The funny thing is that over the past two years or so I've lost 40 pounds. No; you may not look at my butt and tell me: "I think I found it."

What I did was change my entire philosophy regarding eating. Now this is a very long process and it involves a lot of trial and error. I started as I do with everything I do, with extensive research and reading. I considered and rejected a number of eating plans, popular and totally insane.

So what did I finally settle on? Gradual changes. One at a time. Nothing dramatic. The principles were simple. First and foremost, I can and will eat anything I want when I want it in any amount I wish. Just knowing that is so freeing. It allows me to eat smaller amounts of rich or fattening food and be totally satisfied. After all, it's not as if I can't have all I want any time I want; so for some reason that means I am satisfied with less.

I started making some logical substitutes in my diet. I bought hard wheat pasta because it contains more fiber, is digested much more slowly, and I eat less of it and stay fuller over time. I started eating more vegetables and fruits. I have a decided advantage over most people in that I rarely eat pastries, garbage such as chips and sodas, or fast food in the first place. I don't care for most processed food and I avoid eating things with preservatives and additives if I possibly can without being fanatical about it. I eat low fat salad dressings because I personally cannot tell the difference between them and the full fat varieties so I save calories. I won't touch low or non fat milk, cream cheese, or sour cream. I have made the decision to eat less of the real thing than a lot of something that tastes roughly like library paste. Old library paste at that. And yes, as a kid I did eat it so I do know what it tastes like.

I began reducing my portions. Not because I thought I was being virtuous, but rather because I was satisfied with less. The result has been a steadily increasing weight loss with no feeling of deprivation. Sewmouse has been nagging me. Ok to be fair so has my doctor. What about? Exercise. I am fond of saying that any time I get an urge to exercise, I just lay down for a while and it goes away. But they are both right. Given my limited mobility (I have sciatica, exercise-induced asthma, and very bad knees) I have to find things I can do. Both the doctor and Sewmouse have recommended doing five minutes of exercise at a time. That would still grow into 30 minutes 4 times a week over time as I do more of the five minute segments. *sigh*

So where am I going with this? Nowhere really. I'm not really trying to lose weight though the changes I am making apparently are doing that anyway. I already have low blood pressure and low cholesterol, so that's not a problem either. I'm disgustingly healthy for the most part. I think for once I am doing this for all the right reasons. I no longer think I can starve myself into being acceptable to men and frankly I don't give a rat's ass about that any more anyway. I put that behind me quite a few years ago. I simply want to be healthier and make my life that much easier. I like the way I eat. I don't eat stuff I don't like. I refuse. Life (no matter how long) is too short to waste by eating garbage and pretending it's caviar.

So this week I start exercising a bit at a time as weather and my own pig-headedness allows. I begin a program of meditation. I am currently in another sleep study thing, and I have a bottle of sleeping pills that I've waited since half past forever to get my hands on. Ironically I cannot take them right now because of the sleep study. But that will be over next Wednesday. I am doing some research into acupuncture for insomnia. We have an acupuncturist within half a mile of the house I could go to if it's affordable and if I find any evidence it works.

Time marches on. I found a new produce market yesterday. Great buys on great stuff. I am making barbecue sauce at the moment for the chicken tonight. We'll have it with salad and grilled asperagus. Oh yes, did I forget to mention the fresh lemon meringue pie?