101 Steps to a Fitter You!

INTRODUCTION Confessions of a Junk Food Junkie: When I was in my late 40's, I became more and more aware of how tired I looked (and felt) and how out-of-shape my body had become. Poor eating habits and the lack of physical activity had led to weight gain. Over the years, I had managed to pack on an extra forty pounds of flab. Eat fat not carbs and eat carbs not fat diets, “miracle” belly fat reducing pills, thin thigh machines, flat abs machines—I tried them all. The only thing that shrank was my bank account. My dining choices in the “old days” read like the perfect storm. Some of the factors that lead up to the catastrophe (my ever-expanding waistline) were: Breakfast Hot cakes with extra sausage, bacon, eggs and cheese on a bagel, French toast with extra bacon, or some other “filling” food item was among my daily breakfast preferences. Potato chips and corn chips were not off limits. Moreover, no matter what food item I chose for breakfast, a sixteen-ounce cola always accompanied it. Snacks Potato chips, corn chips, and nacho chips were the snacks of choice and I enjoyed them throughout the day. Lunch Fried shrimp, a double cheeseburger, a cheese steak, a corned beef sandwich topped with cole slaw, or some other heart attack on a roll accompanied by French fries was the preferred lunch food. Dinner Since I disliked cooking, dinner was always a take-out meal. My dinner selections would range from a whole pizza (with lots of toppings) to a cheese steak with extra meat to a full rack of barbecued spare ribs. The word “extra” was always on the tip of my tongue. I casually outgrew my size eight suits and eventually ate my way to a size fourteen. It was not until the size fourteen pants started to get tight that I had to admit that I was in trouble. I refused to wear a size 16! My first thought was to eat less food at lunchtime. I later decided to take walks at lunchtime instead of eating. Neither of these tactics fostered weight loss. In fact, my weight might have even increased. There were two main reasons my attempts at weight loss had failed. First, I did not change any of my other habits. Secondly, because I did not eat a proper lunch, I was starving later in the afternoon. I would then squelch the sound of my growling stomach by eating unhealthy snacks, i.e., more cola, potato chips, and corn chips. When I started building my first business, I replaced my fat-laden dinners with evening networking events. Aside from crudités, usually accompanied by high fat dipping sauces, the food and drink served at these events were seldom healthy. Then, one day I said, “No more!” I decided to grab the flab by the love handles and embark upon a quest to regain control of my body. I searched the web, read health and fitness literature and slowly began to modify my diet and develop an exercise plan. Eating a balanced diet and participating in regular physical activity became the key components of my quest towards a healthier body. As of this writing, I have dropped two sizes (yes, only two sizes and not a size fourteen to size four in a few months, as seen on TV) and I am on my way to dropping a third size. I feel better and I know that I look better. My goal has never been to wear a size two or even a size four. My goal has been, and will continue to be, to wear a size healthy. I am not a nutritionist or clinician. I am an everyday woman, just like you, who has decided to reclaim her body. I have had my weight highs and had my weight lows. However, I do not believe in fad dieting. Fad diets or crash diets may have worked for some of you, but they are not diets that most women can maintain for life. I love good food and drink, and cannot ever imagine denying myself something that I enjoy. Therefore, you may see me in a restaurant indulging in a steak, eating eggs with a side of bacon, or sipping a very dry martini. My key to healthy eating is “all things in moderation.” I do not drink martinis every evening. I do not eat steaks every night. Moreover, as much as I love bacon, I do not eat bacon every day. Nevertheless, these are things that I enjoy and things in which I indulge from time to time. Keep in mind, I would never go against my doctor’s advice and indulge in these extravagances if she ever placed them on my “do not eat” list. Weight management is a lifelong journey. By taking the time to read “101 Steps to a Fitter You!” you have begun your journey towards a healthier lifestyle. So, come on! Let’s get started!