What are your eating commandments?

Hello my friends! It's been awhile and I'm sorry for my absence. I guess I have spring fever along with a bad knee. I'm coming along in that area. My Dr said after a chondroplasty it can take up to three months to know if it is going to help me. I think I have turned a corner and I am walking better. He still doesn't want me to do any weight bearing exercises like walking or standing longer than I have to. The bike and elliptical are OK, so I will start that soon. Of course I am walking around the house, but he means no long walks for exercise. Poor Roscoe keeps looking at me each morning wondering why our walks have stopped.

I have thinking about our little blogging community and how we are all changing and evolving regarding our eating and exercising. So many of us have changed up the plan, switched to another, or are doing our own combinations of various plans.

That's why the weight loss industry is a billion dollar one. It doesn't seem like many people can stick with one thing for the rest of their life and every time someone else comes up with a new plan that works for them, we think it will work for us too. And it might...for awhile....or forever...or maybe not  all.  Like other addictions  (drugs, alcohol) that you can stop forever, you can't stop eating. That's why food addictions are so hard to conquer. You never have to take another drink of alcohol, or take a drug if that is your addiction. But you do have to eat, every day, several times a day  and in various situations.

I think we all need to come up with our own personal eating commandments. I know that it is unrealistic for me to think I will never have a bite of mac and cheese,  a piece of watermelon or a bite of a dessert. I know that I can't cut out everything that's white, like rolls and bread forever. I want to but I don't think I can really do that forever. But I will try and that's a big step. Maybe just admitting that to ourselves makes it easier should we choose to indulge. I think choose is the important word. If you are going to have a "cheat" food, then at least don't do it standing over the kitchen sink shoving it in your mouth without any thought or plan. Own it, savor it, keep in mind the three bite rule, and then be done with it.Get right back on track and follow your commandments.

These are my commandments of eating.  These are rules I know I can stick to  every day.

1. I will keep my sugar intake low. White sugar is bad. I can keep it to 15 gms a day. This means also watching my fruit intake.

2.  I will avoid all white foods. White food is bad.  We all know it.White sugar, white flour, white rice fall into this category. I will avoid these foods. I know if I do slip and have some, it will lead to more cravings, and more hunger in the days to follow.

3.  I will not use artificial sweeteners. They are bad for your health. Really bad! And there is lots of evidence to support that. I have cut them out of my life, and don't miss them at all. I now use Stevia in my coffee.

4. I will track on my fitness pal. I have to watch my calories along with my sugar and carb intake. Some people don't, but if I don't watch those calories I won't lose, even if my sugar and carb intake are within the limits.

5. I will drink 8 - 10 glasses of water a day.

6. I will get some activity, at least 30 minutes every day.

7. I will limit my carbohydrates daily. This includes even the complex ones. They slow my weight loss, bloat me up and make me crave more. Currently I am trying not to eat any complex carbs after lunch.

8. If I really can't resist something or it's a very special occassion, I will exercise that famous three bite rule. And the bites have to be normal size, not scoops!! This can't be an everyday occurrence however no matter how special you think your days are!!

9. If I slip, stumble or fall hard off the wagon, I will immediately pick myself up and start back on a healthy way of eating with the very next bite.

Please share your commandments. I want to hear! Sending you all love and hugs!

Thought for the day:  You have to stand for something or you'll fall for anything.