I’m fat.
Not like Elvis Presley on the year I was born, with lardy ridges rolling off of my body, fat. But I’ve got work to do.
Last year was rough. Though I’ve been known to fart sunshine, I’m as human as anyone. And when my going gets low, by going likes to get eating.
Something about sitting in front of the screen, leaning back in my chair as I’m listening to the loud silence that screams my to-do’s, makes me want to shove peanut M&M’s into my mouth a handful at a time. I know they’re only low grade nuts surrounded by cheap milk chocolate, and not some magic elixir that will make everything alright or extinguish my sadness.
But just try to convince me while I’m chewing.
It also doesn’t help that I love pasta with an unhealthy appetite, and that Cindy cooks it just about better than anyone I’ve ever known.
I know I’m not alone in what I am about to say.
Somewhere around October I just gave up.
Halloween, after all, was right around the corner, and there would be plenty of candy within easy reach, with Turkey Day really just a beat behind. Then Christmas, which we all know lasts a full three weeks, would be followed by New Years.
I could always eat better in the new year!
Of course, I would’ve started the New Year with a clean slate, but my daughter’s birthday is only two weeks into January and my own is just one week after that.
Why bother trying to stay clean when there are so many obstacles clearly in my way?
Sad thing is, this is the same game I play with myself every year.
Today is February 1st.
Just like last February 1st, and all the I’m not sure how many before, I will be getting lean and eliminating sugar from my diet.
I’ve always loved the 28 Days of February, a chance to trim up and feel my best. Four weeks of discipline, capped at the end by a lean frame and renewed vigor. Sure, I like to punch myself in the stomach without feeling a wobbly vibration, but it’s more than that.
I believe I owe it to my body to give it the best. Though I’m fairly certain I’ll be able to go all cyborg sometime before I die, I probably shouldn’t bank on it.
Yet at the end of each year, I lead myself into the same trap. Last year more so than most.
Though I’m sure next next year I’ll still be celebrating these four weeks without sugar in my diet, this will be the last 28 Days I spend undoing the mistakes I made the previous three months.
By saying this out loud, here to you, I am hopefully flipping a switch inside me.
One that will keep me doing what I’m supposed to do, even when it’s most difficult.
If you’d like to join me, I’d love the company. Hit me downstairs in the comments and I’ll tell you what Cindy and I have on the menu for the next month.
Good stuff, all you can eat. Just no sugar.
The first few days are rough, but soon you start to coast. After a few weeks, food tastes better and, sometimes, the sky even looks a little bluer.
Happy February.
About Sean Platt
Goodluck Sean! One of the downsides of working online is that we're stationary for most of the day, where other trades get their exercise during work hours (construction) we have to try and fit it in around work hours.
Well, I know that Tara and Hayden both wrote about giving up sugar for an extended period of time and how it changed their bodies completely. I just don't know that I can do it. I mean, I just baked a batch of cookies yesterday and they're still in the house!! I would love to see your menu, though, because while I still love sugar, I do try to cook healthy and low-fat.
Good luck!!
I always have to have that kind of January and February, too, so spiritual support is winging its way to you from Scotland! And thick, vegetable soup with all kinds of pulses in it. Soup is the answer. Pots and pots of home-made soup, ready to be drunk in mugs like coffee or as a filling lunch with bread. Smug food, I call it. You can eat as much as you like, it takes away the urge for sweet things and you always feel full and healthy, comforted and cosy. And it's easy. I also found it helps to have a spell of only eating food that requires a spoon or fork, fruit being the exception. Good luck!
We're planning a special trip in January, with friends.
Now, it's one thing to put on a bathing suit and hang out with people you don't know on the beach, it's completely different when it's your husband's best friend's family. :) So….
I gave up soda. ALL soda (even diet), drink three glasses a milk a day, eliminated all junk food (except for one fudge caramel brownie I made last week- just to test the recipe), and try to eat four small meals a day instead of one huge one at night.
I don't exercise more than usual because I honestly don't have time and I hate feeling like my head is going to explode.
I've lost 7 lbs. in 2 weeks.
Now, I'm not telling you this for a pat on the back for shedding a fat roll, the point is, I needed serious motivation- the fear of people I know seeing me in a bathing suit- to get serious.
Find your motivation and you'll be modeling bikini underwear for Cindy in no time. ;)
I'm modeling bikini underwear right now!
Oh! And don't feel bad, at least you don't look like this guy: http://blueduckcopy.com/2008/09/20/9-steps-to-c….
:D :D :D
LOL, TMI!!!
That actually is me, I've just look a little different in my avatar.
Whatdya mean TMI? It's not like I told you the brand or color or anything?
BVD's, turquoise.
So true. I used to be on my feet all day long, and never had to worry about what I eat. I am getting older as well. I need to stop eating like I'm 20!
It's just a few pounds. I'll drop it in no time and this time I'll stay in fighting shape.
It's the Scarsdale Diet that Cindy and I loosely follow. It's basically tons of protein, fruits and vegetables. Zero carbs and sugar. Works great, though, as I'm never hungry and regularly drop the ten pounds in about two weeks.
But I'm not gonna say you won't miss sugar. : )
Hi Janice,
Nice to see you!
Yeah, soup is awesome, especially in these cool months. Not only is it hearty, filling and generally good for you, it's also great for the diet on a budget!
Soup for dinner it is. :)
Good luck.
I lost my m motivation sometime last fall, too. I've been back to the gym 2 or 3 times a week since the beginning of January. It's made a difference.
Ya just gotta keep at it, though. Otherwise the weight creeps up on ya.
Yeah, it used to be I could drop it at the beginning of the year and it would stay off until the following year. These days it's constant maintenance. Which is fine, as I really should be taking care of myself on a daily basis anyway. : )
No… sugar… No….sugar….
Sorry… that just doesn't make any sense to me.
Oh bother, I'm being resistant aren't I?What you say here resonates a little too much!
Good luck… I might have to do the same myself. Boo.
P.S. Farting sunshine nearly made me choke on my tea. In a good way, of course :)
You should smell it. The scent alone can strip off the pounds with a smile. :)
No sugar! Oh. *looks at chocolate lovingly*
Alright, I'll give it a go. Though I do eat in rather a good way. Protein, veggies, fruit, GOOD carbs. It's all in the portion control.
But have not been going out for daily exercise walk, and it really does make a difference.
So before I have millions of pounds to lose, I'll try this February to take care of those squatter extra pounds before they refuse to move out!
So. No chocolate?
Yeah, no chocolate. My wife is sad too. :)
But the 28 days of February makes it a nice clean block of four weeks. Keep your eye on the prize and you'll be done before you know it. It really is amazing what a difference it can make.
Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day.
Well, sean, at least you're almost 6'4 tall…..that's great for camouflage. When you're 5'5, not so much! Our family loves food, always has….that's a fact. butter, butter, butter, sugar, sugar , sugar! Remember you used to say that nothing smells quite as good as the smell of fat and sugar in the air? I remember the first time I tried the scarsdale diet (20 yrs ago?) It really does work. I lost a pound a day. The deal is, keeping up good eating habits afterwards, not making up for lost sugar time. I'm the worst, and at xmas time i wound up eating a 2lb box of Sees in two days and two days later my system had gone into sugar shock. I have had neuropathy in my hand ever since. Megan gave me a great women's detox book and I have eating healthy for four weeks now. REALLY! It took scaring the bee-jesus out of me to know that I have to be serious now. Life changes must happen. Don't like doctors, don't like meds, hmmmm…let's see… I love clean, healthy food and I'm a great cook. I have actually not felt deprived the last four weeks. I have just had to use lots of extra care, planning, substitutions and creativity and the result has been the best tasting food I've had in quite awhile. No fast food period!!! No late nights with my favorite two men, Ben and Jerry. The goal? Health and breaking into those bins of great clothes I haven't been able to wear in awhile. About sixty lbs or more to flush!! Richard Simmons bless you and me both! Love ya, mom
Ahhhhhh. The infamous February cleansing. Since I am a diabetic I am happy since I have had to watch all you jokers indulge in the sugar train of good and plenty. However, I must also thank you for letting me live vicariously through your indulgences as I feel your allegiance and honor to the Pasta Goddess was nothing less than perfect.
That's excellent, Ma! Congratulations.
I'm glad to hear you haven't had fast food in a month. That's really quite impressive.
You'd think any one of your earlier scares would've been enough, but hey, who am I to know?
Awesome job.
Can't wait until March so you can bring over some greasy corn enchiladas. :)
Baby, when the pasta's as good as you cook it, I don't have a choice but to chew, swallow and smile!
Love ya.
Well, since they're not hot pink and turquoise, I guess it's ok. :)
:)
Dude, you bring up a good point.. I am in your same situation…
I need to trim up before this summer… anyway, it isn't b/c I'm vain, it's b/c I need to feel better about myself and right now I don't…
Thank you for pushing me to do what I've been tryin to do for weeks…
Our Wii fit won't know who stepped on next time I'm on there! Eat it Wii!
Dude, thanks for the motivation..
My Wii fit can eat me.. I'm gonna get on there and the f'er won't know who I am!
Hahaha, my pleasure man.
I gotta get me a Wii Fit. That would make me much happy. And I'd probably miss the peanut M&M's a LOT less!
Punch it in the teeth! :)
Good luck, fatty!
I'm doing the opposite and trying to put on as much weight as possible before spring.
LOL! Fortunately, it's only fifteen pounds. I should be able to shed it before the month's out, no problem.
You want my peanut M&M's?
After losing just under 45 pounds in 2007 I've watched almost 10 slowly creep back on, try as I might to keep it off. I'm determined to get back to my goal weight though, so I'm with you on the February thing! (Although I'm following a different dietary plan; my husband and I have gone vegetarian.) (Speaking of which, does your friend who cooks for Ellen have a website? I'm always on the hunt for new recipes so if he has a site I'd love to check it out!)
Ha! That's SO funny. I was JUST finishing an email to Roberto this very second.
Yes, he has a site, but it's not live yet. We're trying to get it up before his next appearance on Ellen, this Friday. But we're waiting on him to send some pictures.
Hopefully, we'll see it soon. I'll announce it on the site, but if you'd like the domain early, send me an email and I'll shoot it right over. :)
I'll set my DVR to record the show and I'm looking forward to the announcement about the site.
Awesome!
Thanks, Kim. :)
yeah, happy February to you too :-) At least you know what the problem is — sugar. Most people aimlessly blunder around trying to fix something they don't know the first thing about.
Oh, I know it's sugar. My sweet friend and mortal enemy. :)
Honestly, I know I'm more productive when I'm eating…what's up with that???
Good luck with this one, Sean.
Thanks, Hayden!
The first day was rough since one of my friends owns one of my favorite restaurants and he invited us out to dinner. The second day was perfect. Today will be bossome.
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