The Brain in Rehab

Yesterday we learned about the downward spiral of eating carbs.

Today we discover there is a way out.

The first step towards recovery is admitting there is a problem.

I admit there is a problem. (ie you haven't seen your toes in over a year, you can't bend over to tie your own shoes, the dryer continually shrinks your favorite shorts, your wedding band is getting smaller or the scale accidentally fell into the garage and got crushed.)

The second step requires overpowering the brain. My theory is that we tend to do the same thing over and over because it is comfortable. We tend to stay in our comfort zone. If carbohydrates have been our food of choice we automatically think 'carbs' when we think of eating. We have to change our way of thinking. This requires a conscious decision to stop. think. and choose to do something different. Quite often we are so tired or busy or rushed, that this simple act is too much.

If you want to beat the carb spiral you must change the way you look at carbs. (ie duct tape pound cake to your fanny and see what that looks like. Ask someone to videotape you as you walk away. Pound cake fanny ain't pretty. Attach Oreo cookies, in stacks of threes, around your midsection, put on your favorite t-shirt and tell me that looks good. Fill a large ziploc bag (make sure it is sealed tightly) with jelly. Attach it to your midsection then have someone videotape you while you do some jumping jacks. Play it back in slow motion, concentrating on the movement of the jelly. Remind you of Santa? That's hot....not.)

The change starts at the grocer. Do not buy the stuff you really want. I don't care if it is on sale. I don't care if they are giving it away. I don't care if someone is paying you to take it home. No cookies. No ice cream. No white bread. No white potatoes. No corn. No doughnuts. No candy. No cake. If the outside of the box says Little Debbie, don't buy it.

If it's not in the house, you can't eat it. And I hear you saying 'But the children'...horse manure! You are not thinking of the children, you are using them to get that food in the house. YOU ARE AN ADDICT. Don't listen to yourself. I practice tuning myself out all the time, it works. Besides the children don't need it either, if they want it, they can eat it at a friends house (this works two fold. One, you don't have it in the house. Two, since the children ONLY eat that crap, they will be at a friends house ALOT, which means you have gotten rid of the children too!)

I don't like this any better than you do. It hurts me more than it hurts you. I am doing this for your own good.

So what can you buy? Whole grain bread. It actually has nutrients in it. Your body does not convert it into sugar AND it will actually keep you fuller longer. It is delicious toasted. Slap on some all fruit jelly and you have yourself a snack that satisfies a sweet craving. Better yet, top it with some natural peanut butter and you have a filling afternoon snack that curbs your hunger, gets you through to the next meal and you just decreased your risk for heart disease.

Get this, soluble fiber has an attraction to fat. Yes, it likes to date the fat that is in your intestines. As the soluble fiber (found in whole grains) scoots on through your intestines it is picking up every loose (as in floozy) fat cell it can and carries it right out with it. Fat is an easy pick up. It has nothing better to do, it gladly hooks up with the fiber and out they go. Bonus right? Eating whole grains gets rid of fat. In medical terms this is lowering your LDL (bad cholesterol).

We can still have pasta, but now it's whole wheat pasta. Yes it's different than regular pasta, but if you eat it with the idea that it IS different, that it won't taste like white pasta; if you admire it for its nutty, al dente feel, you will find it is quite acceptable. And it too is carrying those fat cells right on out the exit ramp of your body.

The highway to well if you will.

Again, I am not a doctor but based on what I've read and experienced, this could work. My plan is to eat five to eight servings of veggies and fruits (not all fruits!) a day. Not to eat anything white. And, if I have made healthy choices all. day. long. If I am honest with myself and I have truly been good, I can have a cookie, or some ice cream or some other treat at the end of the day. Half a serving size. This way, I can still have my goodies and not feel deprived. Deprivation is death to any diet. By the way, this is not a diet, it's a lifestyle change.

It is empowering. I have control over what I eat now. My brain is no longer the boss of me...wait, does that make sense?

I know what you are thinking. This plan is brilliant right? Simple right? Anyone can do this, right? You want to pay me lots of money to help you do this right? No? Okay, skip that one but to continue, you are asking 'Why didn't someone come up with this already?' They did!

It's the food pyramid.

And it's free. All you need is a wife that is on board with it and willing to prepare all your meals for you. Let's get started....

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