Journey Toward a Healthy Family

Ever since Mikaela was born, it has been my goal to teach her healthier eating habits than I was taught.  We started out doing so well.  I was losing weight, we had Mikaela eating healthy foods, and things were going really well.  Then I went through a miscarriage, which caused a lot of emotional eating on my part.  Then I got pregnant with Natalie, and lost all self control, eating anything that tasted good and blaming it on my pregnancy.


So here I am, almost 4 months after having Natalie, and struggling harder than I ever have with eating healthy and "gaining lightness" as my dear friend refers to our journey towards health.  The worst part is, I've allowed Mikaela to start eating many things that are not healthy for her, and can set her up to fight the same battles I've fought most of my life.


So far I've been using Weight Watchers online to track my food, exercise and weight.  I know this program inside and out.  I know how it works, I know what foods I'm supposed to be eating.  The problem is, simply tracking my food isn't keeping me from eating that sleeve of crackers, or package of fresh-baked cookies, or heaping bowl of ice cream at the end of the day.  It's not keeping me from eating a bag of skittles while studying to try and stay awake to get my reading done.  It's not keeping me from eating an entire bag of pretzel crisps during a class, again, to help me concentrate during class.


So I am making the decision here and now to give up on using Weight Watchers as my tracking system.  The program does work, but it's not helping me right now. 


I have been doing some reading, and I watch Dr Oz almost daily.  I definitely don't idolize the man, his show just happens to come on at a time when there isn't much else on.  So I got used to turning it on for noise during the summer.  But I will say, the man knows what he's talking about when it comes to healthy eating.  The main point I've been taking away from his show is, it is time for me to cut out processed foods and simple sugars.  While I have successfully kicked the fried food habit, I can not resist an entire sleeve of crackers once it is opened.


So hubby and I are going to try to start eating more fresh foods.  I'm not calling it a low-carb diet, as I don't believe in that kind of diet.  I do believe there are healthy carbs out there that the body needs.  But I will be looking for those healthy versions.  I'm excited about trying new recipes, and new ways of eating.  I'm also excited about this venture because my Mom will be staying with us for 12 weeks, and I can't wait to help her lose a good bit of weight before she goes home in November =)


I just get the feeling that, if we cut out the processed foods and simple sugars, and start relying on fresh foods, the weight will come off all on it's own, and it won't be as much of a struggle.


Will this be easy?  Heck no!  I will still have to make a daily, moment-by-moment conscious decision about what I'm putting in my mouth.  But I am tired of being tired, and I'm tired of not looking my best.  I'm tired of working out 4-5 times per week, just to sabotage my hard work with a bowl of ice cream.  Because we all know that one bowl leads to other poor food choices.


I ask for my readers and friends to please join with me on this journey, and pray for me!  I need all of the prayers and accountability I can get.