It's been a weird two weeks. I've been so busy I haven't had time to sit down and spend personal time on the computer to reflect with you all what is going on in my life. The first thing I would like to share is that for the first time in four months I am finally feeling like myself again. The weight gain has stopped and I finally feel I am back to my normal eating patterns. I know I fell off the wagon during my time dealing with depression, but I can now see the light again. Now comes the test to see if I can get back on track and lose the weight I gained during this time. In the past when I went through these times I wouldn't have it in me to lose the weight after wards and so time after time these episodes would build up until I reached 240 pounds. Now I know it will be a journey and a process until I will be able to get through these episodes without eating and gaining weight. Until then I will give myself credit for recognizing the early signs of the depression and ONLY gaining 7 pounds instead of ten or twenty like in times past. My husband reminded me that in dealing with addictions like alcohol and food it is a process of coming out of these and that is why giving yourself credit for the little victories is so important. By doing so you keep that positive mental attitude which many addicts need to over come their addictions in the first place. Overcoming ones addiction and starting a new lifestyle is as we have stated here before is becoming a new person and changing that lifestyle which is a process and as we have said here a journey. In my recovery program I can relate to the drug and alcohol people because much of what they are going through is what I am experiencing as well. Many of them also have faced depression and a low self image on top of their addiction as well. The never give up and keeping a positive attitude seems to be a command denominator in being successful on both of our overcoming our addictions and dealing with depression. I knew it would be a matter of time before I would come out of my depression, but during those dark days it felt like eternity. I had to put my faith and hope in my Lord and in my family which stood by me, and in my friends who offered me encouragement. Thank you all for being there and giving me that encouragement. You were there when I needed it most. I am eternally grateful. Now, back to the gym and back to logging, back to my diet, , and get some of these pounds off. I do have a few sweets to get rid of in the house which I shamefully allowed in the house during those dark days. Then the house will be cleaned of all sweats and I will be back to normal of just having fruits and veggies in the house.
Speaking of eating and such, I found another article on sweeteners which is beginning to even convince me why artificial sweeteners need to be limited. Now, being a diabetic, I do use splenda, but have cut way down. I found the article on the Time Health & Science Page. It is interesting reading about how our bodies will gear up when sugar is put into it to burn the calories, but when you put artificial sweeteners in it the body is fooled and does not gear up to burn the calories in the food that the sweetener is in and thus is more likely to store the food that the sweetener is in. If I get this right, this could be why they are saying artificial sweeteners can make some people fatter. Ok, it still comes down to how many calories and whether you go burn those calories off in my opinion, but you can go read the article at :
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1711763,00.html?iid=...