It has been a cold and rainy winter, and I fear some of us have gained a bit of weight. I’ve put on two or three pounds, but I try not to worry, because it’s not much, and I know my activity level is increasing. I eat less when I’m out and about. Pretty soon, I’ll be back to normal.
I lost about 50 pounds when I was in my 20s and another 10 just a few years ago. With lifelong weight maintenance, I have found it’s important not to panic and over-correct. Just keep exercising and get back to eating well, focusing on portion control and healthy choices. Trust your body to know what it needs.
The truth is, I’ve been uncharacteristically undisciplined. Before I made a serious change and eliminated junk sweets from my diet, Easter was my favorite candy season … tricksy, as this is also the time when one might be trying to recover from winter weight gain.
Easter, our cruel mistress, brings all that chocolate, but I show up for the sugar. The joy of jelly beans, marshmallow peeps, marshmallow bunnies and chicks (like Circus Peanuts) and why, yes, those hard marshmallow Easter hunt eggs.
I never met a marshmallow I didn’t like, but I have avoided them for several years. However, I was feeling sorry for myself. I try so hard to be careful and do everything right, but the rewards are elusive. I’m thin and fit, yet I have to worry about blood sugar and blood pressure. Age and genetics and definitely not fair. All good reason to indulge in self-sabotage, right?
The incident involving my face on the pavement pissed me off, so I bought two bags of the Easter hunt eggs. Just so you know – Walgreens didn’t have them, but CVS did. In case you want to follow me down that slippery slope. I allocated four each night in a little bedside bowl so the candy was handy. The white ones are my favorite.
That first marvelous crackly sugary bite. It’s like heaven. But heaven with a taste of hell, because there’s just no excuse for eating these things. And once you start, it’s hard to stop until you’ve overdone it, and your throat is oddly parched with a sugar hangover, and there’s not enough water on the planet to quench your thirst.
If I’m paying attention, I don’t feel right when I eat poorly, and it seems there’s new thinking that supports my theory.
There are four eggs left, and I am throwing them away. No more handy candy. I’ve had my little party.
I’ve been trying SO hard to avoid sugar, but it’s just so good. I love Cadbury Eggs but have not let myself buy even one. I think I’m doing OK but I have a feeling there could be a binge session at some point. And then I’ll feel guilty. Why is this so hard?
I never tried to avoid sugar completely — just crap sugar. I know sugar is sugar, but for me it is somehow easier to manage when I focus on wholesome foods not from a package. I think, well, if I’m going to eat something sweet, it had better be pure chocolate or something homemade and amazing.
Our treat is dark chocolate so I haven’t given up everything. But I am avoiding baked goods right now. I have trouble with moderation!! 😜
Oh, chocolate. I’m a sucker for those little candy-covered chocolate eggs. So far I haven’t weakened and brought a bag home. I indulge in Lindt chocolates at Christmas. I used to keep them in the cold room in the basement, promising myself that i would only have one if I needed to go to the basement. Funny how often I “needed” something from the basement! Now I stash them in the shop so I don’t overindulge.
I admire your strength!