Farewell Bad Habits

Well, at least one BIG, yucky bad habit. I'm giving up Fast Food and Sodas. Like maybe forever. But at least for a year. I've done it before and I am always a healthier and happier person when I'm not eating Fast Food and drinking sodas. Fast Food is stock full of chemicals and artificial food that not only gives us absolutely NO nutrition, it also is addicting. I have no science to back up my claim, although I'm sure it's out there, but I lnow for me - it's addicting. I'm gonna get serious here on the blog today, so watch out!

{source}

A few years back I stopping drinking ALL alcohol and was also on a very strict diet. You can read about it HERE. It was a healthy time for me for many reasons but also extremely unhealthy. I lost 50 pounds but I also thought about food 24/7 and had no time or energy for friends or really anything. I was only able to be healthy and go to work - that was it. I didn't realize what I was doing to myself during this time. I need people, good people to help me stay sane. I got very depressed and found myself wishing I could drink with my friends and had these awful, tear-filled moments of craving alcohol. Or at least I thought I was craving alcohol. This scared me, so I went to an AA meeting because I thought I must be a alcoholic if I'm craving it.

I knew a friend in AA and she told me to just go visit a meeting and listen and see if anything resonates with me. So, me and my tummy-full of butterflies went to meeting and I listened and I didn't make a peep the whole meeting. I was terrified and felt like I was spying on a group, not part of it. But, one thing did resonate with me. The speaker said "When an alcoholic takes a sip of alcohol they immediately have this sense of 'Ah, that's what has been missing', and we are here to help fill that void without alcohol!". This statement kept me thinking for the next few weeks. I knew that feeling all too well but it never came from alcohol.

A few weeks later my parents and I went up to TN to help move my grandparents into their new place. Traveling is always the most challenging part of any type of diet. Eating healthy on the road is expensive and takes a lot extra time. I usually packed a cooler with food and would just pull over and eat in the car while my folks would go in and get food at a restaurant. After a very hard few days of packing and packing and more packing my Mom asked in a tired tone "Can we just go through the drive through and eat in the car with you?", I said yes. I had no idea that the smell of the fast food in my car and the sight of the soda cups would effect me so strongly. I started crying, almost immediately. It was crazy. I wanted that food, and it wasn't fair that they could have it and I couldn't. And the soda...grrrrrr!! I want that soda, I know exactly the feeling it will give me and I want that feeling. Basically, I had a temper-tantrum. Major low moment. 

My brain trailed back to that AA meeting and all the dots connected. I wasn't addicted to alcohol, I was addicted to fast food and sodas. I wish I could say that this moment of clarity changed my whole way of thinking and life and that I never had fast food or sodas again. That's not how this story ends. I did go another 8ish months without either but eventually I fell completely off the wagon again. Now, I've gained all 50 pounds back and I'm trying to get back on the healthy horse again without ending up isolated and depressed. It's hard for me to practice moderation - with good and bad things. 

So, why am I telling you all this? I honestly don't know for sure. But I figured if I'm to write my life here I might as well write the hard stuff too. This is hard for me, really hard. I want to just give up one of them sodas or fast food, not both. But, I know they feed off each other. I can't just give up one, I have to give up both. And I'm starting to believe that it might have to be an all-the-time giving up, but we will just start with a year and then go from there. Part of me is hoping that in telling this - you will maybe want to join me in this? I know that people are stronger when they are in groups and helping each other. Maybe you would like to be healthier or maybe you feel the same exact way as me. If you do - please tell me so I know I'm not alone :) 

So...would you like to join me for...

You can make up your own "Rules". For example I do not consider Izze a soda because it naturally sweetened with fruit juice. So, I can treat myself with those. I also have a friend who is giving up Fast Food but not Cook Out, because that's a local thing and not like other fast food chains. This is her rule and if it works for her - great! Me, I'm not eating at Cook Out anymore, as much as that saddens me. Basically, come up with your own deal and tell some people about it. Tell your in real life friends because those are the folks that can help you the most. Then tell me, cause the more the merrier and STRONGER! 

Also, I realize this would have been much better to post on January 1st. But, I wasn't planning on writing about this stuff then. Oh, what a few days can do. I'm being brave and talking about my real-life struggles and challenges and I hope that you will be encouraged by them. I'll be writing from time to time about the 365 days without Fast Food and Sodas here, maybe once a week. I haven't decided yet, it will depend on you guys. Do you think I'm crazy to ask others to do this too? It's okay if you do:)