Food Journal

I've been keeping a food journal on & off since the beginning of August. At first, I missed a lot of days, but later on when I got into the habit of it & realized it was actually good for me to know what I was eating, I've been doing it every day. For one thing, it makes you think before you pop something in your mouth. Even though the doctor who asked me to do this (a cool cardiologist -- if you're reading this, hi!) didn't tell me to change my eating very much--she knows I have a good sense of nutrition -- it DID make me aware of my problems with portion control and what it was that I'm eating. Here, I always prided myself of really knowing about which foods were good for you & which were bad, I have come to see that I'm not following my own rules very well. For one thing, even though I make a concerted effort to get in several servings of fruits every day, there have been long stretches when I don't take in any vegetables other than a sandwich or an ocassional sliced tomato with eggs in the morning. So much for being so smart!

I have also come to realize that it's hard to eat all the things that you're supposed to within a 24-hr. period. And can I say it? It's sometimes boring, too. Yes. Boring. Fruits & vegetables, fruits & vegetables... what do I look like? A squirrel? I want goodies sometimes, and I want carbs & meat most of the time. Sorry, but it's true. I especially crave rare red meat. My Paleolithic genes are kicking in. And carbs? Gnocchi, pastas of all cuts & sizes, Chinese fried rice, Italian bread, flour tortillas... Not much fiber or whole grains there. Aarrgh!!

OK, ok. I know that for me with my myriad health problems, I have better get with the program & eat right, exercise daily & get some of this weight off or I won't be around to enjoy any foods any more. And I do so enjoy food. For so many years I felt guilty about loving food as much as I do. But now that I discovered the Food Network and the many "foodie" blogs online, I know I'm not alone! There's a lot of people like me out there who really love to eat & think about it often (some, very often). So why be ashamed of it? Were the Chinese ashamed of their preoccupation with food as they developed so many wonderful dishes over the centuries? No way! They took food to a new height as an art form -- cutting each bit of vegetable or meat to be exactly mouth-sized so as to maximize the eating pleasure. I have even caught myself dreaming about food on several occasions & even chew (!!) in my sleep. Yes, chewing, & the dentist showed me the wear present on my top front teeth interiors from doing so. So '86' the guilt & let's look at food in a new light -- seeing as we can't go without it.

So, my new plan is to increase the veggies & work on portion control. I'm sure all my problems with food would be enough to spend a few years on a psychiatrist's couch to work out the reasons why I feel I have this "void" to fill within me with food. When it comes to food, I lack objectivity. I have this feeling that it's my god-given right to eat that piece of pie. And if you want to ban it from me, then you don't really love me. Sounds a little like I'm stuck in childhood, doesn't it?

It's hard to make real changes in life. Damn hard, but not impossible. I gave up putting white sugar in my tea when I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes. Now, I'm super-sensitive to sweet things. Salt, too. I lightened up my use of salt with my high blood pressure & water retention problems. So now I can't eat a normal cracker without it tasting too salty. I've gone to the low-sodium type. And I'm still standing! We drink only 1% milk at home, & I suspect that we could go to skim milk if we really had to, but I have a teenager still in the house who loves cereal & milk & it might be hard for him to adapt.

To add to my problems comes the issue of Metabolic Syndrome. BIG controversy raging over this right now, between the diabetes doctors and the heart specialists. Basically, it's a turf war. Which group has dibs on this condition. The endocrinologists say they do -- after all, it's mainly an issue of blood glucose levels. Cardiologists say, not so fast. This group of health problems can affect the heart & circulatory system without the individual ever knowing what hit him. In fact, they now think this accounts for a large number of heart attacks. But however you want to slice it, this stuff is nasty & everyone who has a problem with a large "middle" ought to google it right now & get informed. You may have it. Or be well on your way to getting it.

Here's what it is: (basically)
1. High blood pressure
2. Type II Diabetes or Insulin Resistence (a whole 'nother story)
3. Abnormal cholesterol -- high triglycerides & low HDL
4. "Trunkal obesity" -- a big stomach (apple-shaped, rather than pear-shaped)
Put them all together & they spell TROUBLE for you. Find out more about it if any of these fit.

What can be done about it? Diet & Exercise. Same ol', same ol'. That's it. That's basically the bottom line. Sure, they've got medications for diabetes & high blood pressure & the newer "statin" drugs for cholesterol reduction, but diet & exercise is the key for really reversing it. And losing weight. Which is what started me off on this direction in the first place. I'm not going to say how much I have to lose, but I'll be happy to report any successes with you. My first goal is 10% of my current body weight. Since I've been food journaling, I've lost 4 lbs. Just for writing it down each day. So it's a start. And don't even think of leaving off that cookie! Tell the truth. You're only cheating yourself.