Ash Wednesday

The beginning of Lent is here and I am very excited for this years fasting cycle!

You see, I am ADDICTED to food. YES, there. I said it. I have an unhealthy want for it and it has lately gotten COMPLETELY out of hand. I found myself always thinking about food and always eating something without any regimen, control or regard to what, when, and how much.

What bothers me the most is that I know better. I have been trying, hearing (voluntarily or involuntarily), and studying about the way one should eat. I decided that Enough is Enough and that my uncontrollable slavery to food is truly standing in my way. It all started with knee pain in my dance classes. I LOVE TO DANCE! And sing. And do pretty much anything requiring full use to my creativity mind. If boundaries arose, I'd simple bulldoze my way through them because I'd love what I was doing too much to have anything in my way. So all it took was a simple visit to the doctors. He told me I could continue dancing at this weight and not get very far past certain knee and ankle injuries, reproductive issues, and premature health deterioration; or I could simply lose the weight and avoid these issues all together.

So the perfect opportunity came after the holidays... LENT! What better time could I ask for to get control over my physical addictions and really refocus my energy towards my spiritual well being. I need to shift all my concentration OFF of food and ONTO other important matters.

My process began this weekend where I really overdid my eating for the simple purpose of remembering how awful I felt after eating a bunch of crap. It utter disgust by the time Tuesday evening rolled around, I began my fast with the strength of your story. I read your story, Ms. Oberman, and was truly inspired!It couldn't  have come at a better time!  I took the simple food guide you gave and ran with that, making a few adjustments of my own. I have stopped all consumption of red meat. I am sticking to chicken and turkey (white and dark meat), and a whole lot of seafood. Absolutely no processed anything. If I cannot recognize what exactly I am eating, I will not eat it. Lots of veggies, fruit and nuts in their whole form (not fried or cooked to death). Olive oil and vinegar will still be in my diet. Only whole fruit drinks and water to drink. I think that's it. Maybe some whole grain toast every now and again. But this is already huge for me, and I intend to stick to it! Not only because I have to, but I truly want to!

Day 1 was a success! Can't wait to post more of my journey over the next 40 some days :)