coke addict

So maybe I underestimated my self-indulgent side. I made it one whole day without cheating and drinking a coke. One day. Yesterday I went to Costco and had a hotdog and a coke. sigh. I've read that having just one sugary soda a day, each day for a year will cause the average person to gain 16 lbs. per year. I know that's how I got most of my weight because, other than the fast food binges, I'm a coke junkie. I have been known to finish off a sixpack in a few hours, a 2 liter bottle all to myself. I can gulp a Big Gulp and re-fill it. I LOVE coca-cola. Thoroughly addicted. In fact I probably get the costco hotdog deal just for the coke. LOL! Anyway, other than that slip I've been doing well - avoiding the halloween candy, no fast food runs even though I did have a weak moment this morning craving one of those yummy breakfast burritos from Jack in the Box. MMMM :P I had oatmeal instead. Yea me! Tonight I'm making tortilla soup with the leftover rotisserie chicken we had for dinner last night. I love soup but my family is not really keen on it, so I rarely make it. However, in my goals to be frugal, I'm instigating a soup and salad night, once a week. That way I can make a batch of soup and have it 3 or 4 days for lunch myself when I'm wanting something hot. Save me from the ease of fast food and the expense! We'll see how it goes.

Food Addiction rehab

Day 1 - home scale: 215lbs
Today is the first day of the rest of my life. LOL. Yea right! I've heard that before, but today is the day that I'm starting to change the way I've lived for the last 38 years. I am done being fat. I have struggled with diets and exercise before, hated myself and everyone around me and remained fat.
What's different this time? Well, a lot. First of all, my hubby who has also struggled with his weight his whole life has spent the last year being determined and working hard, he's lost 100 lbs. and is healthy and in shape. Part of me is so jealous, because I was pregnant and couldn't do it too, but it has also helped me resolve to copy him. I know how he did it, and I can do it too.

The other thing that's different this time is that I'm done having kids. I just gave birth (on Oct 13th 2008) to my fourth child, and since I had a c-section, I had my tubes tied at the same time. It was a little hard for me because of several reasons - I hate messing with my body - I think it's best to leave stuff the way god made it and not mess around with nature. Also I had a very hard time getting and staying pregnant (17 years of marriage with no birth control) so my instinct was against a procedure to prevent pregnancy. I had always said I wanted four kids and for years there it didn't look like it was going to happen, but it did, so I decided that there was no reason to be greedy. It is time that my body needs to rest and I am blessed with 4 beautiful children.
Now that I don't have to worry about the constant possibility of being pregnant, the only drain on my body is the breastfeeding I'm doing for the next year or so. When that's done, my body will be MINE again.
So today, even though I gave birth and had surgery two weeks ago, I am starting my program. I am breaking my bad habits, the ones I indulged in while I was pregnant and before that; my addiction (that's really the best way to label it) to fast food and sugary sodas. I'm going to keep track of my progress here in this blog. So today is my first day of rehab - Here are my beginning guidelines for all future food and drink that I put in my mouth:

Jackie's New Life Rules:
1) No JUNK FOOD , no fast food - nothing fried or fatty - no sweets.
2) Eat whole grains, lots of fruits and veggies, lean meats.
3) Drink lots of water.

So that's my start. I probably will add to the rules list as I go, based on what I'm struggling with or what's easy. Once I'm totally healed I will be adding exercise as well - my goal for the next few weeks is to simply break my brain and body cravings for the sweets and fats. Baby steps!