In Which I Don't Blog About My Cat

I realized I've been blogging about my cat a lot recently.  I'm sorry people! I'm not normally THAT person, but really Boo does the funniest things.  And my life is that boring. But on to another topic.

As many of my close friends and family know, I've recently started a 90 day diet with my trainer with the goal of losing stored body fat.  It's hard.  It is really hard.  And its not hard in any of the ways I thought it would be hard.  It requires a lot of diligence and discipline.  Weekends are especially difficult because I feel like I should relax and let loose, and that always has included my diet in the past.  I have specific days where I can "cheat" so to speak, and the key to the diet is to NOT cheat on days I'm not allowed to.  This has definitely proven to be difficult.

But one aspect of the difficulty of my diet that I did not expect was the people around me.  I like to tell people I'm on a diet so that they can help me hold myself accountable.  I can't tell someone I'm on a diet and then eat a giant brownie in front of them.  The problem with this has been that most people think they know a tremendous amount about nutrition when in reality they know nearly nothing.  I fall squarely into that category of people who know nearly nothing.  But I'm learning.  And I'm not learning by watching the news or reading the internet.  I'm learning from a professional.  And I don't blame the general population for the complete lack of knowledge on nutrition - the media has made the most horrible things for you sound healthy.  Take, for example, bread.  Bread is loaded with labels that sound good for you.  "Whole Grain!"  "All Natural!"  Both of which mean very little.  I'm supposed to buy whole wheat bread without High Fructose Corn Syrup in it.  I challenge you to find this bread without picking up and reading the labels of at least 5 different brands.   Its amazing the foods that sound good that are not.  And the worst part is most people would rather believe that than listen to their common sense.  They'd rather justify eating Cocoa Puffs by seeing the "whole grain" label on it.  I think everyone in their right mind knows that there's no possible way Cocoa Puffs are good for you, but people buy into it anyway so they can continue to eat what they like and not feel guilty.  And this is what has been so hard - the psyche of the American public when it comes to health.

There's no secrets or tricks to most of what I'm doing.  I'm eating lots of lean meats and green vegetables, and I eat all day long.  But what has worked for me, may or may not work for someone else.  What my trainer has given me is specialized for exactly me.  I've been shocked by the women at my gym who have seen the subtle changes in my physique and want to know all the secret answers.  And then turn around and justify what they've eaten anyway, or why something won't work for them.  Or then try some crazy version of what I'm doing without consulting a professional and get sick.  Not to mention the women who have started talking about me behind my back.  This is the most shocking and difficult part of my experience so far.  Its been worse for the girl who did this right before me.  They spread rumors about her having eating disorders, and how it can't actually be healthy, and how can her husband let her look like that?  Its a shame that women can't see the accomplishments of their peers and be supportive and impressed.  They have to make excuses and bring that person down so they don't have to feel so guilty about the fact that they can't or won't put the hard work into doing it themselves.

This is what makes me the most angry.  Hey, no one is making or asking you to change your diet.  If you love your Cocoa Puffs and you are happy with your health then knock yourself out.  Eat a box every day for all I care.  In fact, I have a lot of admiration for someone who has acceptance for who they are and someone who takes responsibility for their lifestyle.  But don't come to make talking about how you want to be healthier and ask questions about why my diet is working and asking me to share what limited knowledge I do have about nutrition with you to then turn around and explain to me why I'm wrong and why Cocoa Puffs are perfectly healthy and really I'm the one who has eating problems.  Cocoa Puffs have whole grain in them! You need whole grain and fiber to digest your food properly!  You're probably sleeping with your trainer and not eating thats why you've lost 10 pounds!

This reaction probably sounds absurd to most of you - it did to me.  I wish I were exaggerating.  I'm dead serious that some people have responded in this way to both me and my colleague who did this right before me.  What a shame.  I'm thankful friends and family have been very supportive and asked all the right questions.  I'm always happy to talk  about what I'm doing and what I'm learning.   And thanks for not being offended when I've come to visit and couldn't eat some of the food you've prepared.  Here's to 60 days more of successful dieting - I couldn't have made it through the first 30 without you!