How did it happen?

So, how did I start losing weight without drugs, strict diet plans, or vomiting?


I began eating the angel way.  Very slowly.

http://eatingtheangelway.blogspot.com/p/10-angel-way-guidelines.html


I've been talking about eating the angel way, but because one doesn't lose 30 lbs a month or anything exciting like that, people just sort of smiled and nodded.  And were grateful that I don't tell them what to eat.


But this is what has happened for me.


At first, I added a rainbow or two a day.  I'd think about what I was going to eat, whether it was a pot luck lunch after church or the breakfast bar at Shoney's or dinner at home.  I think about adding different colors, I'm finally OK with not having a rainbow in EVERY meal, but I like to add different things.


At first, I didn't really stop eating stuff.  I ate cheese burgers from Hardees when my boss did a food run.  I still ate fried fish and chips or chicken tenders with fries, or fries with fries. 


And then, I started running out of room for the rainbows and the other stuff.  I started thinking about light proteins (white food) that didn't over power the rainbows.  I discovered Greek yogurt.  THAT was a red letter day.


I'd have to plan meals that my family would eat.  They were OK with adding veggies and fruits, but still wanted hamburger or fried chicken or something.  Then two things happened, and so I'm not sure which had a bigger effect. 


I realized I had to eat for myself, not for others (one of the ETAW rules).  If I like pickled beets and Greek yogurt, I should eat them.  If I don't want fries with that, I shouldn't eat them.  And all meals didn't have to be meat and three (starches) with more meat on the side.  It was time for them to eat like me for a change.  Or not, they know how to cook.


The second thing is that my husband got test results and his cholesterol was awful.  And being the orderly thinking type person he is, he changed his eating habits, right then and there.  He is now addicted to Greek yogurt.  He often throws a fillet of salmon and two veggies on a plate and microwaves it.  He is learning that moderation is OK and doesn't beat himself up if he has a piece of fried chicken at the picnic.  He has learned that one piece tastes as good as 10.  

During the last tax season, instead of burgers and fries or steak egg and cheese biscuits, I ate yogurt, cheese and crackers, veggies and humus, rainbow chili, and all kinds of things.  I have an occasional chili dog but mostly I don't eat fast food.  Wendy's salads or chili and baked potato are about the only thing I'll do now.  I still think baked macaroni and cheese is the best food ever.  Throw in diced peppers, corn, shredded carrots, and purple onions and serve it as the main course, and you're humming with the angels.

The biggest thing is that I eat to feel good.  I eat what I need.  Intuitive eating doesn't mean eat whatever the hell you want, because we have to learn to be intuitive.  (Yeah, counter intuitive, I know.)  Said another way, we have to unlearn not being intuitive.  We have to unlearn that visceral response to a television add with a great big piece of greasy chicken --- no it is not yummy.  As my brother has said, "It makes you feel like you should wash your face in Dawn."  And just because it's good for you doesn't mean it tastes bad.  Why do we keep saying that?

I'll tirade more later... I'm sure you can't wait.

When did that happen?

I have said many times that I don't DIET.  It's a bad word that is chocked full of calories, at least in my case.  I hear the word and gain weight. 


It's not about weight, I say, stepping off the scale.  It's about health.  And mine is OK... really.  All right, I'm tired, my blood pressure is high, I can't walk a mile in any one's shoes, ... did I mention that I'm tired?  But at least I've got my health... sort of.


And so, we ask, how, after the stresses of holidays followed rapidly by tax season followed by trying to catch up on my life after tax season, do I find myself here:  I've lost two & a half clothing sizes in the last year.  Three and half in the last three years.  AND I EAT ALL THE TIME.


OK, the first possibility is that I was not wearing the right size.  In my mind, I am always the same size.  Y'know what I mean?  That is usually FAT.  So I buy the same size clothes until they (almost literally) fall off my body.


This is me in 2007, at the baby shower for my first grandson:

I was either a size 18 or 20.  I have a picture from when Gabe was about 18-months (2009) in which I look more like the Michelin man (as my poor husband said in an unguarded moment, bless his heart).


Last year, I started wearing size 16, which was so cool for me I almost cried in the dressing room.  As anyone who's been there knows, 16 is in the normal ladies department; 18 is in the fat ladies department.  Sixteen is in Coldwater Creek.  Sixteen is sweet!


And this year, I noticed the 16s were a little loose.  OK, I have a flat butt.  It's genetic.  Flat is kind.  It's more like non-existent.  Except, in my case, flat and wide.  But recently, not so wide.


Then one day during tax season, I was wearing my favorite black size 18 jeans.  And they kept sliding down.  Far.  And my cotton granny pants were not meant to peak over the back of my jeans.  Ever.


And so, I drove to Walmart, tried on a pair of size 14 jeans (with a little stretch), and THEY FIT.  I didn't even have to lie down on the floor of the changing room to zip them!  To make it even better, if I buy the Petite size, I wear 12.


I am so excited I think I'll blog about it.  Oh wait, I did.


So now you are thinking, What?  I lost 10 pounds in two weeks.  Gained 20 back the next week, but that's how it works.  Three years, Kathy, you say.  Three years.


And I say, "Yeah!  And I didn't diet.  And although I joined a gym, I didn't go."  (I'm not advocating that --- I really am going to start going next week.  Really.)


So what happened?  Pills?  Surgery?  Bulimia?


NO!!!!   I started Eating the Angel Way!!!! 


I'll go into more excruciating detail tomorrow.... cause it's too good not to share.