I give up

Recently it feels like all I've been doing is giving up. I've given up...

Desserts & most simple sugars, (over 2 years)
Beer (my favorite) & wine (over a month)
Milk products (doctor instructed--one week and counting)
Caffeine (not totally but I'm down to one cup of 1/2 caff a day and the rest of the day decaf)

Free time--many hours going to a slew of doctor's visits, many hours in the gym, many hours in physical therapy.

Money--lots and lots of it for the slew of doctor's visits, hours in the gym, physical therapy. Add to that the prescription medication and supplements (I've counted--I now take 28 pills a day between prescription meds and supplements!--all taken under the care of doctors) and my wallet is just about empty.

To be honest the last couple years have been a struggle for me. Physically and mentally it's been a tough road. The reason I've been giving up all of the above is to find answers to my struggles. Yes, I've been depriving myself of certain things but--what I'm finding is--it hasn't been so bad.

I don't really miss the sugar/desserts because I don't miss the addiction and the physical crashes and lack of concentration that came from eating too much of them (I was THE BIGGEST SUGARHOLIC EVER!). And not having any at all--honestly and truthfully--has made the cravings go away.

The beer and wine? kindof sortof miss it when I'm socializing...but I know I don't miss the depressive crashes that come from having as little as a beer or two.

The milk? It's only been a short time and milk and cheese are ingredients in sooooo many recipes and store products (and I ate and drank ALOT OF BOTH). But do I miss it? Not really.

Because I'm finding that--slowly but surely--I'm feeling better.

I'm feeling stronger--mentally & physically
I'm feeling more confident
I'm feeling happier
I'm feeling more content
I'm feeling that there is a light at the end of the tunnel

I'm finding that sometimes you have to give up to receive.
And keep fighting. And that it's not so bad to give up--what wasn't good for you in the first place.

Which brings me to a...

Baby Step: Think of something that you know...you just know is bad for you and see if you can take a break from it--if only for a couple of weeks. It will be hard in the beginning--trust me. But maybe you'll find that you don't miss it so much. And maybe you'll find, like I did, that after a while it's not so hard anymore. And maybe you'll find that it's worth--giving up. Because you feel better without it.

Be strong. Be Fit. Be Confident. Be your Best.

Hugs,

Joanne