A journey of a thousand miles...

So maybe I am not a thousand miles away from where I want to be in this area, but based on the holidays, it sure feels like it.

To start, you should know that I have many great loves in my life. I am one of those people that says they love everything...I get the whole "then why don't you marry it?" comeback a lot in my family. I think that Jared counted once and in one conversation I said I loved roughly 4 million different things. (I also tend to exaggerate and be a touch over dramatic, but that will be covered in another post)

Well shoot, at least I don't hate everything, right?

Anyway, back to my LOVES. They all basically fall into one of 4 categories (and some fall into more than one).

Important/Can't live without: My Husband, Children, Family, God, Friends, etc....

Non-Essential but FUN: Books, Stilettos, Boots, Bags, Sunglasses, Sunshine, The Biggest Loser...

Essential but not always FUN: Crossfit, Running, Work, Early Church...

Non-essential rubbish that has done me NO GOOD: JUNK FOOD - If it contains carbs/sugar - I probably love it and would swear that it has changed my life.

I would like to focus on this last group for the duration of this post.

Keep in mind that you can do WHATEVER you would like as it relates to food (or anything else for that matter). I am not asking anyone to agree with me or change the way you live your life. If we hang out, I do not expect any special accomodations to be made for me, AT ALL. I just want to document how I plan to change my relationship with food over the course of the next year.

In the past I have had several rules about starting any kind of change to my eating habits. It must always start on a Monday, preferrably the first one of the month, under a new moon, and when saturn is properly aligned within my planets orbit....you get the picture. I have a hard time starting.

Even worse, I have a hard time sticking to it. I think that is because it has always been about weight loss. (That is not enough of a motivator against a chocolate shake from In 'N' Out - just sayin') This time I am trying to change my mindset and think of food as fuel for a body that needs to keep up with kids, work, workouts, family, hectic schedules, etc. Food is not/should not just there for when I am bored, or when I am tired, or when it is that time of the month, or when I am in a hurry. It shouldn't be the only thing that gets me and other people together. It is there to power and fuel the only body I got...

This is an experiment. As I often do, I may end up with my foot in my mouth. However, I would ask that for the next 30 days that you forgive me if I am a bit short tempered. I am hoping that I will be so excited about my new psyche that I won't miss Donuts, Pot stickers, or Ice Cream, but there are no guarantees. I would also ask that if you are with me and I attempt to eat something that is not good for me that you remind me of my goal. (I also ask that you slap me in the face so the message really sinks in - but I realize that many of you are non-violent)

Here is the link if you have any interest in what I am embarking on:
http://whole9life.com/2010/12/whole30-2011/
Below is an excerpt that I loved from Whole 9:

"Here comes the tough love. This is for those of you who are considering taking on this life-changing month, but aren’t sure you can actually pull it off, cheat free, for a full 30 days. This is for the people who have tried this before, but who “slipped” or “fell off the wagon” or “just HAD to eat (fill in food here) because of this (fill in event here)”. This is for you.

• It is not hard. Don’t you dare tell us this is hard. Giving up heroin is hard. Beating cancer is hard. Drinking your coffee black. Is. Not. Hard. You won’t get any coddling, and you won’t get any sympathy for your “struggles”. YOU HAVE NO EXCUSE not to complete the program as written. It’s only thirty days, and it’s for the most important cause on earth – the only physical body you will ever have in this lifetime.


• Don’t even consider the possibility of a “slip”. Unless you physically tripped and your face landed in a box of donuts, there is no “slip”. You make a choice to eat something of poor quality. It is always a choice, so do not phrase it as if you had an accident. Commit to the program, 100%, for the full 30 days, and don’t give yourself an excuse to fail before you’ve even started.


• You never, ever, ever HAVE to eat anything you don’t want to eat. You’re all big boys and girls. Toughen up. Learn to say no (or make your Mom proud and say, “No, thank you”). Learn to stick up for yourself. Just because it’s your sister’s birthday, or your best friend’s wedding, or your company picnic does not mean you have to eat anything. It’s always a choice, and we would hope that you stopped succumbing to peer pressure in 7th grade.


• This does require a bit of effort. If you’re cutting out grains, legumes and dairy for the first time, you have to replace those calories with something. You have to make sure you’re eating enough, that your vitamins and nutrients are plentiful, that you’re getting enough protein, fat and carbohydrates. You’ll have to figure out what to eat for lunch, how to order at a restaurant and how often you’ll need to grocery shop. We’ve given you all the tools, guidelines and resources you’ll need, but take responsibility for your own plan. Improved health, fitness and performance doesn’t happen just because you’re now taking a pass on bread. "

See! Now doesn't that sound like fun?

In conclusion, if any of you have read this and feel like "Hey, maybe I am ready to try a new approach to food" Or you are thinking "Hey, I want to prove that Bethany is as stupid as she looks and this will never work" Please join me! Misery loves company, and my body may be feeling miserable here at first. I would also love to hear about the experiences you have had with this or any other "food relationship" adventure.

Keep in mind, I have never done this! I can't provide my testimonial that it will be the greatest thing ever. I think the success or failure of this whole process is up to me. Eventually it may have to be tweeked and molded to fit the lifestyle that I choose, but I hope at the end of this I will have learned to love and appreciate those foods that make me better...

Now this doesn't mean that in the future, I will never have another frozen custard from Neilsen's...what this should mean is that Frozen Custard is a choice I will consciously make. It will not be a necessity or an obligation that my body feels to itself. It is a rare treat that should be savored and had in EXTREME moderation (the folks at the drive up should not know my name and what I am going to order before I have said it...Yes it has happened, DONT JUDGE ME!)

Sooo, today is DAY 2 of the initial 30 day system shock! (I started on a Tuesday - just to prove I am changing my ways)

Wish me luck!