Do you remember that famous line in the movie "Field of Dreams" with Kevin Costner:  "If you build it, they will come" ?  If my life could be summed up in one movie line, it would be "If you bake it, stir it or cook it,  I will eat it."

I've NEVER been one of those people who "forgot to eat."  Seriously -- who does that?  I've also never been "too busy" to eat.  Never.  I haven't found a snack food that I haven't enjoyed -- except for those little chocolate cakes with the pink coconut frosting.  But other than that, I can honestly say I've pretty much enjoyed them all.  And now you have the answer as to why I've struggled to lose weight.  It's this totally dysfunctional relationship I have with food.  My title could be Dictator for Life of the Clean Plate (and every other bowl, cup or dish) Club.

Since I've been participating in the St. Luke's Weight Loss Challenge, I realized that I need to change my relationship with food.  So I've posted this motto on my office wall -- Just Because The Food Is There Doesn't Mean You Have To Eat It.  It's right above another sign with a "Hunger Scale" on it that says, "On a scale of 1 to 10, how hungry are you?"  Basically, if I'm below a 7, I shouldn't eat.  If I'm at a 7 or 8, good to go.  If I wait until I'm at a 10, then it's too late and I'll eat everything in the fridge.

These little visual reminders have been pretty helpful in my weight loss efforts.  I've lost 7 lbs on the Challenge so far.  But don't assume that the weight loss means I've always followed my own rules.  In fact, just today I ate a cup of trailmix when I wasn't particularly hungry.  I brought it with me and it was just sitting in my desk...waiting...waiting for me to eat it...and so to end the suspense, I ate it.

Lesson for the month of April.  I don't have to be perfect in order to lose weight, but I do have to be conscious of my food and why I'm choosing to eat.  This is really good news!

 

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