In my Heart of the Matter post this morning I share my ‘Top 13’ tricks and tips for taking care of myself. I edit it from time to time, but for the most part they’re my tried-and-true healthful habits. But that’s not the point of this post. Nope, nope, nope. Welcome to the dark side, my friends, my Sunday morning confessional where I share the indulgences that I periodically fall prey to. And…spoiler alert? Most of them are about unhealthy eating.
I know sugar’s my nemesis. But I like it. I like it in all the ‘ose’ categories. Fructose, glucose, sucralose…you get the idea. I love carbs…which reduce to sugar, especially my love of bread, pasta, potatoes. And yes, yes. I know there are healthy alternatives and whole grain, low carb/low sugar options. But the siren call of the decadent carbs? Wowza. The song is intense.
I love sweets. Pie? Yes. Doughnuts? Bien sur! Cakes (but oddly not the frosting)? Yes! But the older I get, the more I appraise my options as I try to predict the after-effects. Inflammation, mostly. Sore muscles, achy joints, headaches, and lethargy? I see the connections. Every indulgence becomes a tactical gambit, as I weigh the pros and the growing list of ‘cons’.
What I’ve learned? I can be a con-artist about the ‘con’ list. I can minimize and rationalize better than anyone I know. And yes, I’ve heard of moderation, but I think it’s a mysterious practice from a mystical land. Moderation Land. I hear it’s a destination and a pretty nice one, but Candy Land beckons. Me? I do better if I simply restrict some foods altogether because my will power is absent most days. I don’t beat myself up about it because I see the patterns. The origins of unhealthy eating are a generational challenge.
A few months ago, I wrote about the prevalence of eating disorders in my mom’s family, and I didn’t hold back. If you have time to read about “Angry Eaters”, hop over. The pic I shared above is from that post. Three generations (my mom, me and her mom – my Nanny) oozing food angst. Every day I think about the inherited, disordered relationships with food, and I’ve learned that being intentional about self-care, reminding myself I can do better – is time well spent. And yes, taking a broader view of my overall health by focusing on small habits makes all the difference.
Vicki ❤
Victoria Ponders 
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