It’s probably no surprise that I spend a lot of time thinking about food. After all, I love to cook and share food ideas with others. If cooking were a love language, it would be mine. The problem is that I have this whole love-hate thing going on: I love food but hate what years of eating just a little too much food has done to me. I not only think of food much of the time, I also spend excessive time thinking about my weight.

I have found myself at a new high.

Or maybe I should call it a low. Between a busy and somewhat stressful life, a season of depression, and traveling the world, I have put on a few more pounds. It stinks. As you can see, food is my go-to whether happy, sad, or feeling stressed. Just about every emotional event calls for refreshments. Lol! What’s a girl to do?

This past week, we visited with my aunt and cousin at their horse ranch in California. It’s a place I went to as a kid and continued taking my kids, grandkids, and Jayme. It’s always so much fun interacting with horses.

On this trip, Dawn, a ranch staffer, offered to let Jams and her cousin, Lilly, ride a horse. The girls were ecstatic. It’s every girl’s dream to ride, wind in their hair, freedom in their grasp. Lol. Not quite the ride they experienced. Dawn led them quietly around the arena and talked about the horse, which she claimed was actually a unicorn whose forelock magically hid its horn.

As we watched the girls ride around in circles, our conversation turned to the fact that even small children could learn to control a large horse with training and practice. It made me think of my own big problem—how I viewed my weight.

I have been fortunate enough to have good health for the most part, but I also know that with too much body mass comes potential health problems of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. But even if I never develop any weight-related chronic disease, my spirit and mind are at risk daily with a certain amount of self-loathing about my inability to do something about it. That’s just as unhealthy.

A reboot is what I need.

I need to put into practice all the training I have received from WW (formally Weight Watchers). I have been successful in using their healthy lifestyle training. Right now, I am lacking in practice. I always tell people, “It works when you work it.” And that is very true. I have experienced it and seen it work for others. I need to work on the lessons I’ve learned to not only change my weight but also change my mind by giving me back control.

So, one small step I’ll take towards success is I will know what I will eat for dinner in the morning. If I leave it to chance in the evening, I will likely make bad choices. I’ll choose what is easy and not necessarily something that will end the day well. And if I plan ahead and know how that day will end, whether eating at our table or out at a restaurant, I can eat my other meals of the day with that in mind.

Another plus

There’s just another thing about planning dinner that’s a plus for me. You know all that thinking I like to do about food? I can enjoy doing it because I’m in control and get to look forward to the evening meal. Now, that’s a huge non-scale victory. A healthy mindset about food is essential to success in the rest.

Take Action

• What things have helped you to take control of negative thoughts about food and weight?
• Choose a small doable action like planning dinner to move you into the ‘positive thought’ arena.
• Share any tips you have about what’s worked for you.

Here’s a great crock pot recipe for Chicken Tortilla Soup that’s packed with loads of zero-point foods. I pulled it out a few days ago to get dinner going in the morning. It was lovely to come in after a busy day to the aroma of yumminess. I use the tortilla strips you can find in the salad dressing area of the market. Low points and crunch. Gotta love it.

Oh, and enjoy the picture of Jayme as a newborn on the link. Our girl is five years old now. Time flies when you’re having fun.

Thanks for stopping by.

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