Addict

Food is an addiction like anything else.

In order to get sober, an alcoholic can't have liquor. A drug addict can't have drugs. A nicotine addict can't have a cigarette. And when all is said and done, yes, I do think that on some level I am a food addict.

The challenge with this is that one can't live without food. What I've been trying to do (like just about everyone else I know) is figure out what are good, healthy foods for me. I've tried to approach this process as a lifestyle change, and not a diet. I freely admit that Saturday (after weigh-in) I eat whatever I want and enjoy it. That works for me. I don't believe that you can/should deny yourself anything. But I have learned that there are certain foods I have have to avoid altogether. Either because I can't stop eating them, or because I know that eating them represents a slippery slope. For example, I have a favorite neighborhood bagel place. It's locally owned, has an awesome owner, and makes killer NY-style bagels. Stopping there on my way to work a few days a week for a bagel, cream cheese and a soda is one reason I landed at WW. There is NOTHING wrong with the bagel if I count the points and I "own" what I am eating. I get it. But I know me. And I know that if stopping for that bagel becomes habit, eventually, I'll stop tracking that points. Or I will go over my points. Or both. I'll find disingenuous ways of justifying the
bagel. Because that meal alone is about half of my daily allotment of points. To eat all that at 7:30am with a 16-hour day ahead of me just isn't worth it.

I mentioned to a friend that I missed the burgers from Five Guys. And that got me thinking about other foods that I (try to) avoid whenever possible because they're just not worth it anymore. So I made a list. And I am NOT ashamed to admit that I miss these foods (and others). For two reasons: admitting that I miss them is ok, and half the battle, and any woman in my shoes who doesn't mourn the loss of a particular food(s) is lying through her Spanx. Here goes.

1. 32 oz. Mountain Dew's from Circle K (special cups keep your drink cold ALL DAY!)

2. Sausage biscuits and hash browns from McDonald's

3. Deep dish pizza. Chicago-style. I could eat pizza 24/7.

4. Ben & Jerry's Phish Food

5. Five Guys burgers

6. French fries...including the ones from the cafe at work. With ranch.

7. Warm chocolate chip cookies after the kids go to bed

8. Birthday cake

9. Chimichanga, chips and salsa

10. Virtually anything fried

Now I must wrap this up and go watch Dance Moms.