's Motd Wed 2/20/2008

[Guest guest]

STAY OUT OF RESTAURANTS

Wednesday, 20 February 2008

When I talk to people about weight-loss, I always ask them about some of the meals they've eaten recently. You know, for instance I'll ask what they had for breakfast that morning or what they had for dinner the night before.I never ask those questions right away. I first listen to how badly they want to lose weight and how horribly they feel about what they weigh now. I listen as they tell me how their eating habits and weight has ruined their lives. I listen as they tell me how they would do just about anything to take the weight off and get healthier.And, I have to tell you, they all sound so very convincing talking about how much they really want to lose the weight. And, yes, I believe every word they say. That's because I have told myself some of the very same things many, many times in the past. After that stage of our conversations though, I move on to the food questions.I was talking to a lady the other day and she was telling me the story of her life. And, I'm sorry to tell you, there were a lot of sad elements to the stories about her life and her weight. Her weight has already caused her some very serious medical problems. But I had to ask her, So what did you have for dinner last night, sweetie?Well, , she told me, it was my friends birthday and she wanted to go out to an Italian restaurant. I had the spaghetti and meatballs, three slices of brick-oven baked pizza, fried zucchini sticks and a Diet Coke.(Uh, Okay.) So then I asked what she'd had for breakfast that morning. So here's what she told me about her morning meal.My husband and I went to a little restaurant a couple of blocks from our apartment. I had a cheddar cheese omelet with bacon, hash browns and a pecan Danish. Now wait a minute. Her meals don't make a lot of sense, do they? I mean, here you have a lady taking eight pills a day for her medical problems. That's eight pills a day to stay alive and yet she's eating like this?You know, some of us are not only addicted to food but we're addicted to restaurants, too! Oh I know, they're just so quick and easy, right? And let's face it, going out to restaurants is a real treat. You don't have to cook, do dishes or wash napkins or table cloths. All you have to do is open the menu, make your selections and wait for the waiter to bring your hot meal to you. Yep, you're in dining heaven, aren't you?You're not thinking about your arthritis when you order that nachos platter. You're not thinking about your high blood pressure or your cholesterol when you order the cheese fondue, either. No, you don't think about any of your health problems. You become just like a robot when it comes to making your choices in that restaurant. None of this is good, you know.So my advice for you right now is to stay out of the restaurants you've been frequenting so often. No, it's not easy making that choice but wait 'til you see what happens when you put yourself more in charge of what and how much you eat by cooking your own meals at home.When you do, you'll see the condition of your medical problems get better or maybe even disappear altogether. You'll begin to lose weight, get in better shape and an added bonus is that you'll save money, too! Because if you shop wisely and eat correctly, you'll have enough money left over to buy a cute little something for yourself! How nice!So, whadda you say, huh? Can you stay out of those restaurants, say, for the next 30 days? Hey, I've done it and you can, too!Love,