's motd Tueday April 6, 2010

[Guest guest]

HUNGER

Tuesday, 06 April 2010

I'm so hungry, I could eat a cow! How many times did I say something like that to myself over the years? Oh, I'd say at least 15 times a day! Yep, back when I was much younger, when I opened my eyes in the morning, the first thing I thought about was eating. I'd say to myself: "Well I haven't eaten since yesterday. So I can 't wait to get to that fridge."

Oh yes, back then I was hungry even right after I finished a meal or a snack. In fact, a lot of times, while I was eating one thing, I'd already be thinking about what I'd be eating later! (How sick is that, huh?) My parents took my brother and I to the movies a lot when we were kids. And as I walked into the theater, the concession stand was the first thing to grab my attention. Just seeing it made me so hungry that I just about collapsed on my way to the counter!When I was younger, I spent a lot of years "hungry." And to tell you the truth, looking back, I wasn't really feeling hungry, at all! My so-called hunger was more like a habit I'd picked up early in life. And, unfortunately, that habit, ( a bad one by the way), stayed with me for a very long time.

That is, until that one day I had my epiphany moment. It was the moment where I really was hungry but...not for food. I was hungry for something else. I became hungry to finally lose weight and get my body into shape. Yes, this really was a different kind of hunger. You know, not like when I was a kid and thought I was hungry for that second bologna sandwich. Today, I'm hungry to get in my sit-ups and pushups! Here's what I say to myself: "All right body, it's time to get to work! I'm gonna strengthen and make you more efficient each day. And in return, you're gonna live a longer life for me."

Look, we all know that exercise is not about diving into a stack of buttermilk pancakes. (Let's face it, eating is so much easier to do than exercise.) But the proof of which is better for your body shows up in your reflection in the mirror. You know, it's like where those pancakes used to live? Well, they've been "evicted" to make room for your now toned abs!So, are you hungry to lose weight? Hey, you have to be if you want to lose the weight and...keep it off! To tell you the truth, I don't really get hungry for food anymore. Like me, you have to one day realize that food is really the fuel you need to help keep your body going strong. And I don't mean by eating lots of processed/artificial stuff that your body really has no use for.When you're eating your fruits and vegetables, your lean proteins, your intelligent carbs...when you're eating the right kinds of fats, (the healthy ones), like olive oil or avocados and when you're making smart fat-free dairy choices, then you're giving your body the kinds of food it's really hungry for. And by the way, do you know what fuel your body is also hungry for? Good old water, that's what! I'm telling you that you can retrain your taste buds, just like I have!

So don't be hungry for an extra-large order of fries or a pizza topped with six kinds of cheeses and meat. Be hungry for taking better care of yourself and for reaching your weight-loss goal!

Are you feeling the hunger yet?Love,