Great Bend Tribune Managing Editor Dale Hogg and his wife, Volunteers in Action Volunteer Coordinator Linn Hogg, have embarked on this two-month lifestyle change experiment as a couple.
Linn
y holiday foe has arrived on the shelves again. Christmas egg nog is an all-time favorite, even in its low-fat version. But low fat does not count when you want to drink the whole half gallon in one sitting. I haven’t, but I probably drank too much. Most of the other candies common at this time stay out of my reach, and I have been able to give them a fast look at the grocery story but avoid buying them.
I do notice that when an open sack of, say, Andes mints are on a table, I tend to sample. The same thing goes with an open bag of Christmas shortbread cookies. The key is to have a companion, good friend, co-dieter with you during your shopping trips until you can build up a habit.
If I don’t bring it into the house, then I am only tempted once in awhile outside of the safe zone.
This diet, I mean, healthy eating adventure, has made me look at why I have these bad habits and I have taken the time to made adjustments. I note that when I say, "no you can’t have that," my brain goes into whiney mode. But if I think it through, and congratulate myself for choosing something better, I feel stronger and better about myself.
Note: I probably look a little crazy walking around the store having this conversation in my head. So please just ignore me and walk on. I will be OK.
A side note: It is really hard to drink cold water when the temperature is 10 degrees outside. Working on this one.
Dale
received word back from my doctor’s office this morning concerning my lab work which was done in conjunction with my physical. The news was mostly good.
My sodium was a little low (odd) and my bad cholesterol was a little on the high side of normal. So, I was advised to drink less water for a couple days and cut back on my fat intake. The latter seems sort of weird since I have very little fat in my diet, but I can make adjustments.
I want to expand a little on what Linn said earlier about the need for companionship in this adventure. She and I support one another, but there is so much more involved than that.
It takes a village, so to speak.
As long as we utilize them, we have our doctors to find the technical, medical things we have to change. A regular visit does wonders at establishing that baseline.
It goes beyond that. I have said this before, but I am a gym rat and exercise junky, and the camaraderie and peer support from fellow gym rats provides accountability and motivation.
There is more. Since we have taken this challenge public, there are a host of Tribune readers who have followed our struggles and are willing to help.
There are nudges and guilt trips from friends and coworkers about eating that Christmas cookie or not riding a bike to work. These happen in the office, in the check-out lines of the grocery store, at holiday parties and just about anywhere else I visit.
It’s like living in a fishbowl.
Don’t take this wrong. I don’t mind the chiding.
Bottom line, should you chose to take a similar journey, remember, you are not alone. There is nothing wrong with seeking out support networks to assure your success.
It doesn’t mean you are weak. It means you are smart and take your health seriously.
Tip: I read an article in my Bicycling magazine about the concept of tempting yourself thin. In other words, promise yourself something if you reach your goal.
Worth considering.
