Day 1 - Feb.22, 2010 - Every Great Adventure Starts With a First Step

I am 233 pounds today.

Got your attention? This isn't a body I planned for or desire but one I've gotten used to. As a Christian woman, however, I have to ask myself, "Is it a body that honors God?" It humbles me to answer, "No, it does not." -- And seriously, I don't WANT to be "USED to" this very formidable house my soul lives in. It cracks when it moves, it's hypothyroid (due to Hashimoto's disease), my ARMS have rolls, and it's too big for my daughter to put her arms around. I'm ready to move from a house to a nice condo or, dare I dream, a tasteful studio.

I've been thinking a lot about how to GET THERE. Yes, move and eat less....but how? What will work for ME? I've TRIED to be cookie cutter dieter (oxymoron, anyone?) but after awhile I get bored, frustrated or hungry. I've tried accountability partners but invariably, we end up working at different speeds and fall away from each other. I've tried quick fixes but these are a lie. The sub-title to "quick fix" should be "enjoy it while it lasts" because it DOESN'T.

My issue is portion control. If I put something nummy in my face, I want to KEEP putting it in my face. Thus, The Baby Bowl Experiment. Here's the size of bowl I'll be working with (the adult bowl is only there for size comparison):


Here are the guidelines for The Baby Bowl Experiment:

1. THE MEAL I EAT MUST FIT IN THE BOWL
-I can cut things up to fit (like toast or meat) but I can't squish anything down or pack it in.
-The meal can't go above the rim of the bowl, unless it's fruit or veggies.

2. I CAN EAT WHATEVER I WANT AS LONG AS IT FITS IN THE BOWL
-I mean ANYTHING. I don't want to feel deprived, I don't want to yearn, I don't want to be excluded. I know a lot of people think you should suffer for goals but for this experiment, I'm all about minimal suffering and long-term achievement.

3. AT LEAST 20 MINUTES HAVE TO PASS BEFORE REFILLING THE BOWL
- If I'm really hungry, I'm allowed to have more than one serving but the time will allow me to think about it and give my body time to FEEL full.

4. I HAVE TO CHEW EVERYTHING AS CLOSE TO A LIQUID STATE AS POSSIBLE.
- Helps with digestion, makes the meal last longer and gives my body time to feel full.

5. DRINK WATER.
-If it has calories, it goes in the bowl and I don't fancy drinking from a bowl.

....And that's it! As I continue to blog, I'll expand on each of these more but my guidelines are set. I'll be bringing my baby bowl to eat with family and friends, even to restaurants. Should be delightfully weird! In my church's Lenten Devotional, the first sentence in today's entry read, "God loves us just the way we are, but He refuses to leave us that way." Was this a perfect way to start this day, or what!?!?!

Oh! And I haven't forgotten about the exercising, or what I like to call the "meaningful movement", portion of this experiment.

MEANINGFUL MOVEMENT, Day 1: Zumba for one hour and a 30 minute walk with my friend, Cyndi.