CHEER

Cheering myself up can be easy or hard and met with success or failure depending on my level of willingness to accept the cheering mood.  That’s right.  I even sabotage myself in this area.  It’s sad but true; there are times when I just decide that I am NOT going to be cheered up.  Times when I feel like stewing over something.  Times when I just do not care to be cheered up.  Fortunately, for the people who have to put up with me, these times are infrequent—well, they are now, I’ve finally outgrown most of THOSE days.  Unfortunately, one of my most popular ways of cheering myself up --that I have NOT outgrown-- is with FOOD.  Good ‘ol southern comfort food.  Yes, dahlings, I am a walking, talking result of carbohydrate abuse.  Carbs are NOT safe around me.  If I see one, I’m gonna pop it right in my mouth and swallow it whole delight in every bite.  I’m referring to the carbs found in foods such as macaroni and cheese casserole; twice baked potatoes; homemade cornbread stuffing (with gravy); homemade yeast rolls; rice (gravy again---actually, the gravy is a given); mashed potatoes with cheese; corn; lima beans; and the like.  If the carb is of the sugar variety, well, you’d be smart to just get out of my way.  I will mow someone down for the sugar variety carbs!  This would all be just perfect if providing comfort and uplifting one’s spirit was all these foods do for me.  But, no.  What they also do for me is make me a great deal over weight which makes me unhappy and in need of cheering up.  This madness has GOT TO STOP. 

               

If you read Carol’s (Facing 50with Humour) latest post (A little of what you fancy...) she informs us that the way the French stay slim is by taking small bites and savoring every flavor as you hold it in your mouth and stop eating the very minute you can no longer taste the flavors in the food.  HA!  The only thing I take small bites of and savor is CHOCOLATE.  And I savor every single bite of the WHOLE FREAKING BAG of chocolaty goodness.  My meals are shoveled into my mouth and practically swallowed whole.  I actually believe I can track this bad habit down to its origins.  If I remember correctly, this began when the girls were getting old enough to sit at the table and eat regular food.  I was the lone stranger in the kitchen for preparing, serving and cleaning up after our meals.  I was also the lone stranger when it came to bath time and bed time.  So, in order for all the things that had to be accomplished between preparing supper and the girls’ bedtimes, I had to rush through my meals.  This is a very bad habit that has stuck around.  I need to slow down when I eat.  And savor those bites—I do love butter and would probably appreciate it more if I ate this way-- and stop when I am full (or no longer taste the flavors), not keep going until I can’t hardly move.  So, maybe it’s not so much the way I prepare our meals (I do use healthy methods and ingredients) but that I eat way too fast and way too much.  And maybe I could cut the frequency of the eating down also.  

Whatever it is I hope I figure it out soon.  And do it.  And stick to it.  And lose all this unwanted weight.   I am NOT one of those women who still look good even though they’re overweight.  And so, here we go again---losing the weight I have gained back from the 83 that I lost before falling back into those deliciously delightful really bad for me southern habits.  First thing is to throw away the fridge magnet that states: Never trust a skinny cook.     

  

This is the 31st day of NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month) for the month of March. The theme for this month is: in a word! My chosen word for today is: CHEER and is from the prompt on Friday, 3/25/11  "How do you cheer yourself up?"