Peace of mind and beauty really do come from within

Dieting! That's probably the biggest catch word around. Everyone seems to have the perfect way for me to lose weight. I have probably attempted most of them at some point in my life and most of them worked for a while. That while translates into two days to two months and then they all either petered out, or died in an explosion of frustration.

Bestest lost a lot of weight by choosing to eat healthier, a lot healthier and I thought that was a great idea too, but I quickly devolved from healthy to obsessive. Instead of fresh fruits and vegetables I migrated into frozen entrees labeled lean or healthy. I did lose the weight, seventy pounds! It just couldn't stay off because these "healthy" meals were high in salt and low in so many other things.

People try to be supportive, but for me the most destructive thing anyone can say is "Don't lose too much now." That is like a get out of jail free card on a bad day. It's the perfect excuse to go ahead and eat -- whatever it is, in as big an amount as I want, to soothe my feelings.

There are no magic foods to help me lose weight, no magic beans to skinny land, no tree of eternal weight loss whose seeds will keep me from consuming too much. I am the master of my fate, the captain of my soul, the only one with enough power to make this thing work.

First of all I needed to decide exactly what it is I wanted. Even a doctor can only suggest what is necessary. If I don't believe it right down to my very core, I won't be able to carry it through.

So . . . I am doing a little of everything. Incorporating more fruit, I started with the only uncooked fruits I could tolerate until I slowly began to love them and branch out using little tricks that made them palatable to me, or even a treat sometimes! I am doing the same thing with vegetables and my signature love, chicken salad, has fit right into this plan too. I really DO believe I can continue THIS way for the rest of my life. I actually managed to go out to eat and stay within the confines of what I call healthy eating.

I started actually walking, very slowly, just five minutes at a time in the beginning and it is working its way up. Yesterday I logged in two miles. Tomorrow it may be more or less.

No one knows how I feel better than I do. Most of the advice I received in the past, from well meaning nurses and doctors and books and articles honestly turned out to be destructive for me. Everyone has a point of view, but it is necessary to consider my own body's needs, not just the things "they" gave up. I am unique.

And you are too!