Friday, July 1, 2011

The Chips are Down

I’ve heard people talk about that “a-ha!”moment in their lives – that moment when they realize they must make a change. For me, it was an article that showed up in my facebook newsfeed one day – “Why potato chips make you fatter than ice cream and alcohol.” Automatically my heart beat a little faster and I felt the shame wash over me as I quietly pushed the bag of salt and vinegar chips back in my desk drawer, hoping no one was watching me.
This definitely wasn’t hard breaking news – yes, I realize potato chips are bad for you and have probably contributed to my weight gain over the years. But seeing it in black and white print hit me like a ton of bricks. How many times have I said I want to live healthier? Lose weight? Eat better? Exercise? Why am I not doing it then? Why am I still choosing something so wrong for me?
Hi, my name is Jocelyn and I am a potato chip addict.
I’m 33 years old. I have two small children. My husband is on the road a lot. I have a job where I am sedentary 90% of the day. I work long hours and commute. I don’t work out. I don’t eat right. I weigh the most I’ve weighed in my entire life, with the exception of pregnancies. I don’t feel comfortable in my skin most of the time and definitely don’t feel comfortable in my clothes. I feel tired too often. Do I want to make a change? Of course! But how many times have I tried and failed? After reading this article – and grudgingly admitting to myself how often I indulge in a very bad eating habit – I decided this was one small change I could make. No potato chips for 60 days.
My potato chip addiction is pretty open. Most people who know me know how much I love chips. I eat them every day. But what most people don’t see is how much I really eat them. I come home from work and grab a bag of chips to snack on while supper is cooking. I eat them on long road trips while we’re driving. I eat them while curled up on the couch while reading. Or watching television. Or for breakfast if I’m at work and didn’t bring anything else. Let’s face it – it’s out of control.
So, here we go. I’m making one small change that can hopefully lead to more changes in my life. Better eating habits overall. Better choices – not just for me, but for my family. What kind of eating habits am I teaching my daughters? In my recent health risk assessment, my health age was 38 – I’m five years older than my biological age. I want to change that. I want to feel young and healthy and enjoy my life again. It’s time to put the bag down and start living life right.

5 comments:

  1. I am so proud of you. You can absolutely do it!

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  2. Kudos to you for starting this blog! I'll be watching,reading,and hoping you do well -- maybe it will inspire me to get into the healthier eating habit as well!

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  3. It's been a year now, what happened?

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