Paying Attention

Start with one cup nonfat Greek yogurt.
Stir in a squirt or two of vanilla-crème flavored Steevia.
Fold in a few fresh berries.
Sprinkle on a tablespoon of chopped walnuts.
Enjoy!

I have been changing how I look at food, and it is changing how I look at life. I have lost enough weight that people are beginning to notice. The most often-asked question is, “What diet are you on?”

My diet plan is “Pay Attention.” I am paying attention to what I eat. I am reading labels carefully so that I know what I am eating. I am measuring and weighing food so I know how much I am eating. (And when I make foolish food choices – a common event - I pay attention to what I have consumed; ignorance is NOT bliss.) I also pay attention to how much and what kind of exercise I am getting. I am even paying attention to how much I weigh – something I avoided for years.

Thirty pounds down from where I started, I have begun to pay attention to my clothes in a way that I haven’t enjoyed in years. I am also paying attention to what my body can do – I am moving about in ways that, six months ago, I could not. This celebration of life is fueling my motivation to embrace health.

So, when craving something to eat, I try to pay attention to what I REALLY want. I am often surprised to discover that a huge bowl of ice cream doesn’t actually sound that good…I generally prefer something more “real,” such as my yogurt-based treat.

And I pay attention to every creamy, crunchy, sweet, sharp bite. yum.