Once I started running, I began to start paying more attention to the foods I ate.
For the past six years, I’ve been on a steady path of improving, but still have certain guilty pleasures that I’m not willing to give up.
Things I’ve Been Able to Give Up
Coke:
Mmmm
I NEVER would have thought I could do this one!! And truly it has been the hardest habit to kick. I couldn’t stop cold turkey, so first I reduced it from seven Cokes a week to 3. Then, like a heroin addict using methadone to ease off, I switched to a few Sprites a week. Since I don’t like Sprite as much, it’s been easier to wean myself from that. I also replaced my morning Coke with Unsweet Ice Tea.
Every morning Unsweet Ice Tea
Wine: I really never had any intention of quitting wine. It just kind of happened, and I feel SO much better without it! Since I switched over to really early morning running, I noticed that it was much easier to get up and go if I hadn’t drank any wine the night before. So I just stopped. Strange!
With these 2 changes, I lost about 5 pounds!! And I didn’t even try. I’m now the skinniest person in my house…which isn’t necessarily a good thing, b/c in the classic ‘Even Steven’ principle (from a Seinfeld episode where if someone loses weight, another nearby person will gain it), my daughter is gaining. (She’s a sidelined cross country girl still fueling like an active cross country girl).
Anyway, I digress.
Advil: Not necessarily I diet change, but something that I enjoyed that I probably overused. When I first started running, they really helped with muscle pain. I’d take anywhere from 4 a day everyday down to 2 a day 3-4 times a week. About 2 weeks ago, I just stopped (wasn’t supposed to have any before the small surgery that I recently had), and noticed how much better my tummy felt. After having dealt with a chronic upset tummy for years, this is nothing short of miraculous!!
Things I haven’t Been Able to Give Up (Yet)
Goldfish: I literally eat handfuls of these EVERY SINGLE DAY. I guess maybe they are fulfilling some dietary need for carbs and salt? Or maybe not. When I’m feeling really fancy, I mix two flavors together. But my go to favorite is pretzel.
Mixture of Parmesan and pretzel goldfish
Candy: Sorry, just can’t quit. I always have to have a bag of candy in the house that I’m working on. I have pretty good self control, so it will take me a while to work through a bag.
I think I’m pretty tricky on Halloween though. I buy candy that I don’t like to give out! (I’ll bet I’m the only person on the planet with that strategy).
Don’t really like these candy flavors
Cookies: Every single morning for breakfast 4 (or sometimes 8) Nutter Butter Peanut Butter Cookies. Mmmmmmm.
Breakfast of Champions
What have you been able to quit?
What are your guilty pleasures?
Travel, Running and a Little Bit of Style 