The Hardest Part is Letting Go, of Nachos.

Days until con : 93

05/31/2011

Eating well is just as simple as doing it right? And if it weren't for the fact that we're humans and have cravings, it really would be just that easy. You want to lose weight, get ripped, be healthier, paint a picture, stop smoking, not commit murder...then just do it.

Watch your favorite television show? Do it.
Brush your teeth? Do it.
Read new A. Lee Martinez novel? Do. it.

There's a fine line between being able to just pick up and do something, and being on autopilot and doing them because it's a habit. For the most part your day is full of repetition, mindless droning about at work, or school, driving the same roads at the same time and likely eating about the same foods on the same days at the same places. Even when you attempt to try a "new place" you'll likely escape back to a safe dish that is generally good at other places.

Well my habit is to eat nachos at the little mexican place across the street, and not just there. At least once but not limited to two or three times a week I have to have mexican food in my stomach. Most of all, I desire nachos, I want them and I believe they want me just as badly. That warm gooey cheese just laying on top a bed of freshly baked chips like a evil swimsuit model beckoning me to draw near. Most of the time I can shrug with a sly grin and say, "Maybe later babe, I gott a play hard to get", but eventually I fall victim to the siren's song.


It's just a habit, I forget I even like nachos the moment I'm munching on a orange or some strawberries. My loyalty to the junk food temptresses is fickle at best, making me a poor lover I suppose, but it means there's hope yet. I've seen the light, I drank the coolaid, and habits are powerful things. I got overweight because by habit I would eat when I got bored, and when I was legitimately hungry I ate as much as possible of the most ridiculously bad foods. When I went to the restaurant I ordered the same things, over and over. This last month has a been a lesson it habit breaking, as I don't automatically order the nachos, I look first and try to pick out the healthy option. I don't eat it all, I save some for later. When I get bored, I munch on orange, or I take a small walk. I'll call a friend, maybe grab some coffee. I love coffee conversations, and it's a lot more healthy than devouring a bag of bold flavored chex mix.

I love bold flavored chex mix. More than anything. More than nachos.

Up until recently I've taken relatively small steps as health and fitness gurus go, but I've read enough success/failure stories to know that completely changing your life in a week or two can be both harmful and way too much at one time. Hot for Con has been running strong for a month, and with 3 months left I've done my warm up and it's time for the full sprint.

I'll be joining a gym sometime this week, and my diet, while perfect for when I'm not training Con, will be amped up in order to get ready for my target goal. Think of it like training for a movie. When Con is over, my healthy lifestyle will still remain.