I recently started a new diet. It is not far off from how I normally eat, but it is more balanced and ensures calorie restriction. I have learned to eat healthy as more of a lifestyle versus just occasional dieting over the years, but to lose some pounds, a strict meal plan must be followed.
As I diet, I have multiple random thoughts that others who have ever dieted may relate to.
I thought dieting was supposed to help me stop thinking about food, but I think about it more. I find that when I am on a strict diet, I am required to think about food ALL the time. I have to make sure I have enough food on hand to follow the diet, and I have to think ahead and food prep. In addition, if we go out to eat to save time cooking and cleaning the kitchen, it requires some research to explore restaurants and menus to determine what I can eat.
Why are there so many tasty foods like donuts, pizza, cookies, cake and more always around for free? It always seems to be someone’s birthday, holiday or other random day that is associated with food. If it is not a special holiday, there always seems to be someone that has a sixth sense that I have banned sugar from my life for the moment. Life on a diet would be much easier if all the special moments were celebrated with veggie or fruit trays.
Whoever said eating healthier is cheaper was telling a big fat lie. Whether it is grocery shopping or going out to eat, eating healthier always tends to cost us more money than if we chose less healthy more processed foods. Yes in the long run, it will cost me less in health expenses, but ordering a salad is often more expensive than other food options at restaurants.
Why can I not be one of those people that can eat what they want and not gain weight? Seriously, I sometimes gain weight eating too much healthy foods, but there are others that seem to be able to eat donuts when they like with few to no health concerns.
I would like to lose some weight while on the diet. Look, I get that the scale does not always matter. I have taken before and after pictures and have seen my body make changes without losing much weight. My cholesterol is in the normal range, my blood pressure is excellent and I feel overall better when I eat clean healthy food, but dang, I would like the pounds to come off faster.
Writer Bio: Summer Bolte
I spend most of my time and days with my three kids, husband and dog. My kids frequently play near me as I garden, cook, DIY and volunteer. My most unusual paying job has to be feeding fruit flies in a research lab, and my most fulfilling job was being an oncology nurse for seven years.
