I think back on what it was like when I was growing up and I look at what things are like today and I am shocked. In my class of 30 students, there may have been 3 that were considered obese. The same cannot be said of my 16 year-old son’s class. I would say at least 30 percent of his class is overweight. The high school band director commented how they had to order new uniforms due to the ones they have being too small. The band director has been with the school almost 20 years and he commented on how the kids have gotten larger over the years. Fast food is one of the reasons. I grew up in a farm town and the nearest fast food restaurant was more than 5 miles away. It was not built until I was in high school. We ate at home every evening and maybe ate out once a month.

Things are different now. People seem to fly through life without taking time to stop and smell the roses or enjoy their food. It is all about figuring out where we can sqeeze a meal in between school and evening activities. I think this country is in trouble if we don’t take healthy eating and sensible exercise a little more seriously.

Did You Know That…

-Obese children and adolescents have shown an alarming increase in the incidence of type 2 diabetes, also known as adult-onset diabetes.

-Many obese children have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, which are risk factors for heart disease.

-One of the most severe problems for obese children is sleep apnea (interrupted breathing while sleeping). In some cases this can lead to problems with learning and memory.

-Obese children have a high incidence of orthopedic problems, liver disease, and asthma.

-Overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.

Tags: childhood obesity, obese children, overweight children, childhood weight problems, obesity

This has also been a pretty good day. I was able to stay away from sugar and carbs for most of the day. It is getting easier as time goes on. I have been trying to get into the step book and start thinking about the behaviors that lead to the eating. Today I ate a few things that I should not have, but I am still trying to find a variety of foods that will fit into my food plan. My food plan is predominately sugar free and low-carb. Eliminating these foods makes me a more tolerable person. I feel less anxious and irritable. I am beginning to feel a Higher Power at work as my program begins to fall into place.

Tags: food plan, low-carb eating, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, healthy eating

Yesterday, I had a day that I could call being abstinent. I did not have any bread, pasta or candy. I did however, have 2 chocolate chip cookies for dessert with dinner. Even though the cookies are not part of many OA members food plan, I did not eat them compulsively. It was a conscious decision. I think with time that part of my program will also change, because one of my 5 reasons for giving up sugar was the way it make me feel. Because of my surgery, I have flu like symptoms for an our after eating it on some occasions. An who would willing do that to themselves.

I finally feel like there is hope for me in this program and to get that last 50 pounds off. I just need to look on my journey as a new horizon and not like I am missing out on something by not having sugar in my diet.

Tags: Just for Today, recovery, OA, Overeaters Anonymous, Twelve Step program

I have been trying to convince myself to give up sugar for quite a while now and so far I have not done a very good job of it. So I guess it is time to look at the pros and cons of the situation. They say this is a good way to make a decision. So here are my reason for giving it up:

1. It make me feel bad shortly after eating it. This is one of the the side effects of eating sugar after gastric bypass surgery. I have been blessed (cursed) to actually still be able to eat sugar after surgery.
2. It makes me tired shortly after eating it.
3. It make me irritable, especially after my sugar level drops.
4. It gives me cravings. Once I start eating it, I will want to eat it all day long.
5. It makes me gain weight.

These are really quite compelling reasons to give up the addictive substance, maybe tomorrow will be the day.

I can only think of one reason to keep eating it an that is to satisfy the need for instant gratification.

Tags: eating sugar, cravings, OA, healthy eating, weight loss goals

I believe that credit and weight gain do have a direct relationship. Do you eat more fast food since the restaurants started accepting credit cards. I cannot think of one restaurant of any type that does not accept credit cards. I believe the last time I was in Waffle House I had to pay cash. But if you are a Waffle House fan and do not have cash, don’t fret. Their restaurants all have cash machines in them (that charge that little cash withdrawl fee). How much money do you charge on your credit card each month at restaurants. I know in my case it is too much and that is about change.

Tags: eating out, credit and eating out, credit cards and fast food

For a long time I have believed that the biggest part of being overweight is in our head. At least for me it is. I am the kind of person that does not need a reason to eat. As far as I am concerned, getting up in the morning is reason enough. I am proabably not the only person in this world that feels this way. I found an article called “7 thoughts that make you thin.” It talks about how changing the way you think can change the way you lose, gain and maintain your weight. Weight loss is a process and only a small part of it has to do with eating. It is a challenge for me to stay on track with my eating, but for me it is more about being healthy then is getting into a bikini.

Tags: Just for Today, weight loss, losing weight, eating healthy,maintaining your weight