Will I always have to think about healthy eating?

Tell me if this sounds familiar?

“I just want to get to a point where I don’t have to think about it.”

The “it” in this case is eating for weight loss.

Gah! This is such a tough one. Whenever I hear this plea I want to give the wisher a reassuring mama bear hug. The truth is multifaceted but before we get to my answer let me tell you more about my own experience …

Not thinking about “it” is what got me here.

Before the weight loss began I had a set of routines, routines I didn’t have to think about. I didn’t think about the half bag of tortilla chips I would dunk into sour cream and salsa after work, but when I came home the purse went in the closet, the shoes were kicked under the bed, and I magically found myself nested on the couch with a cellophane bag to my left and a serving bowl of dip in my hand. Not thinking about “it” sure wasn’t doing me any favors.

In the beginning, we thought about everything!

When Mike and I began our weight loss journey we jumped in with both feet. We measured or weighed our portions every time we ate a meal or a snack. Each bite was accounted for. In my e-book Eat Merrily &Be Light, I introduced the idea of bringing measuring cups to holiday meals. We did. We brought our scale on vacation and measuring cups along with our side dish offerings at family dinners.

This may sound a bit extreme, but, consider this: For more than a year, Mike and I were immersed in learning how to eat portions appropriate for our bodies and, since our lives included holidays and vacations, so did our training.

Would you do it for a dollar?

Recently I asked Mike for his thoughts on “not having to think about it.” He sniffed and said, “that is like saying, ‘I want to be wealthy so I don’t have to think about money.’” Gosh I love that man!

Mike is so right! Don’t we dream about winning the lottery or suddenly inheriting a fortune from some previously unknown relative? We fantasize about how all that money would make life a breeze! The truth is sustaining that wealth requires management. But, holy hell! You’re not going to turn down a winning ticket because the wealth would be too much work! No way! You are going to take a deep breath and enjoy the adventure of living a brand new life beyond your wildest dreams! As you learn how to manage things the steps will become routine and the routine will become easier.

Money can’t buy happiness but is sure does buy options. In the same vein, weight loss does not guarantee a happily ever after either but, just like wealth, good health opens up a world of options. Our weight loss journey has been similar to learning how to manage wealth.

By repeating the steps they became habits.

In the beginning we were driven to learn all about our weight loss program. We counted every gram of reduced fat ice cream. We read all the nutrition labels, interviewed wait staff at our favorite restaurants, and relied on our food “budget” to guide our eating choices. Taking that time to be disciplined gave us a solid foundation for our new sustainable habits.

Over time, we learned how to feed our bodies, first for weight loss then, again, for weight maintenance. Now our work is paying dividends. We have a much richer quality of life and far more options for our future. It is absolutely a form of wealth, one that is available to everyone.

Now, making healthy food choices is as normal as brushing our teeth.

Have we reached a place where we don’t have to think about what we are going to eat and how it will impact our bodies? Nope. However: Because we did the work to build healthy eating habits, these thoughts are quick and fleeting moments that pepper, not consume, our days.

To make brushing your teeth, or how about flossing, a habit you had to actively remember to do it at the same time every day. Perhaps you have left yourself post-its on the mirror that read, “Floss!” After a while these reminders are no longer needed but you still have to cast some thought to the routine or you will wake up with skuzz mouth and realize your mistake. A few days of skuzz mouth and the post-it reminders will go back up until the habit has re-solidified.

The bottom line:

So, back to the question at hand. Will we reach a point that we no longer think about “it” — our food choices? Honestly, I hope not, but for the sake of those who are asking, I will tell you —“it” gets so much better!

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Sarah Jean Muncey-Gordon puts on some BITCHSTIX lip oil at Bandbox Beauty Supply on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024, in Langley, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Bandbox Beauty was made for Whidbey Island locals, by an island local

Founder Sarah Muncey-Gordon said Langley is in a renaissance, and she’s proud to be a part of it.

A stroll on Rome's ancient Appian Way is a kind of time travel. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves on the Appian Way, Rome’s ancient superhighway

Twenty-nine highways fanned out from Rome, but this one was the first and remains the most legendary.

Byrds co-founder Roger McGuinn, seen here in 2013, will perform April 20 in Edmonds. (Associated Press)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

R0ck ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer Roger McGuinn, frontman of The Byrds, plans a gig in Edmonds in April.

Mother giving in to the manipulation her daughter fake crying for candy
Can children be bribed into good behavior?

Only in the short term. What we want to do is promote good habits over the course of the child’s life.

Speech Bubble Puzzle and Discussion
When conflict flares, keep calm and stand your ground

Most adults don’t like dissension. They avoid it, try to get around it, under it, or over it.

The colorful Nyhavn neighborhood is the place to moor on a sunny day in Copenhagen. (Cameron Hewitt)
Rick Steves: Embrace hygge and save cash in Copenhagen

Where else would Hans Christian Andersen, a mermaid statue and lovingly decorated open-face sandwiches be the icons of a major capital?

Last Call is a festured artist at the 2024 DeMiero Jazz Festival: in Edmonds. (Photo provided by DeMiero Jazz Festival)
Music, theater and more: What’s happening in Snohomish County

Jazz ensemble Last Call is one of the featured artists at the DeMiero Jazz Festival on March 7-9 in Edmonds.

Kim Helleren
Local children’s author to read at Edmonds Bookshop

Kim Helleren will read from one of her books for kids at the next monthly Story Time at Edmonds Bookshop on March 29.

Chris Elliott
Lyft surprises traveler with a $150 cleaning charge

Jared Hakimi finds a $150 charge on his credit card after a Lyft ride. Is that allowed? And will the charge stick?

Inside Elle Marie Hair Studio in Smokey Point. (Provided by Acacia Delzer)
The best hair salon in Snohomish County

You voted, we tallied. Here are the results.

The 2024 Kia EV9 electric SUV has room for up to six or seven passengers, depending on seat configuration. (Photo provided by Kia)
Kia’s all-new EV9 electric SUV occupies rarified air

Roomy three-row electric SUVs priced below 60 grand are scarce.

2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD (Photo provided by Toyota)
2023 Toyota RAV4 Prime XSE Premium AWD

The compact SUV electric vehicle offers customers the ultimate flexibility for getting around town in zero emission EV mode or road-tripping in hybrid mode with a range of 440 miles and 42 mile per gallon fuel economy.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.