I Declare!

I tend to be a very passionate person. I will make declarations and vows with every possible ounce of sincerity within me at that particular moment only to not follow through, give up, and conveniently "forget."  For a perfect example, you can look at the myriad of diets and nutritional declarations I have made in the past. I have gone "vegan" (it lasted all of one week and by the end of that week I was so hungry all I wanted to eat was the most disgusting processed animal food imaginable - it didn't matter what: cheese whiz, pepperoni slices, deli meat, bacon, you name it...I wanted it badly!), vegetarian, gluten-free, carb free, fat free, and every other type of "free" you can think of only to jump off the band wagon as quickly as I jumped on. As I'm dealing with yet again, another complete and utter failure with the 17 Day Diet which in other words could be named "Carb Free/South Beach/Atkins." I'm frustrated with myself. However, this morning I have taken some time to evaluate my situation. I think back to when I lost gobs and gobs of weight and think about how that worked. I increased my vegetable intake dramatically, I ate in proper portions and tried to limit my number of processed carbs. I just ate smarter. I didn't technically eliminate anything. I still went to Happy Hour with my work friends and ate chicken wings and drank beer. I just didn't feel the need to eat I read yesterday in the June Shape Magazine that in looking at a variety of different diets that limit things: carbs, fat, etc. they all will work to some extent because what it comes down to is eating less calories leads to weight loss. I'm tired of making declarations and promises that I will let go by the wayside. I'm tired of craving/eating junk and then dealing with the guilt and remorse afterward. I'm tired of beating myself up internally every time I fall off the bandwagon.

The problem, however, is that I've declared this once before. In fact, I must admit, I have declared to not declare. There are probably some blog posts in my history that do just that. But, like most people that want to lose weight immediately and can't afford surgery, I get sucked in by the claims of losing 15 pounds in 10 days. I start fantasizing about how that's all I really want to lose anyway! And I could do it in 10 days! I ignore the voice that reminds me that I've been losing and gaining the same 15 pounds over the past 3 years and I declare that I will never eat _______________ (fill in the blank with the name of whatever food you will currently vilify) again!

So, I'm going to attempt to leave this roller coaster/misery-go-round and just be for a bit. I'm so busy with the move, living in the "Land O' Boxes", having a to-do list as long as my arm that I just focus on that for awhile and leave the other alone.