Going South

It's been a hectic year. As usual, I did what I usually do when things get crazy. I went crazy. For 8 months I have been stuck in my head, obsessing over tasks, activities and challenges. The first thing to bite the dust when I go crazy is "me." Attention to healthy eating, exercise, rest - all of it went flying out the window. Now, 8 months later, I'm tired, flabby and distracted.

I'm in a quiet phase. Yes, I've got some tasks to attend to in the near future, but right this moment there is nothing that qualifies as a burning issue. So it seems that now is the time to regroup and get on track. I am doing this by exercising, walking and going back to Curves a few times per week. I also started phase 1 of the South Beach diet yesterday. I am committed to the full 10 day program. Oddly, I find I am both sleepy and energized. I've done this eating plan before. About 3 years ago I lost 30 pounds in about 3 months. Since then wine and pizza and other fat foods helped me find half of those pounds. I'm looking forward to losing another 30, minimum.

The first time I did South Beach it was really expensive because the diet calls for fresh ingredients, spices, and foods I had never really eaten. This time I find I have integrated many of these foods into my regular diet. Hence, it is not as challenging to cook the meals or follow the meal plans. Cooking with and eating fresh foods automatically makes the process of eating a more conscious activity. Nothing is "fast." It must all be washed, peeled, sliced, cooked . . . One ends up more involved with food, even though the calories involved are drastically reduced. Even as I type this blog, I can still smell fresh lime on my hands and taste the fresh watery crunch of celery stalks. Yep, that's what the South Beach diet is like - fresh lime and cool crisp celery. Kind of nice. Refreshing.