Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  In the old days I would be preparing corned beef and cabbage for dinner tonight.  However, last year I realized I didn’t miss festive food as I have known it my whole life.  I could easily create a cabbage dish to enjoy tonight, but Thursday nights are crazy and we have leftover beans, so there you have it. 

Occasionally, I discover I was wrong about something and it is a good thing.  Today I delightfully discovered an error on my part.  Yesterday I measured my waist circumference and thought it was only down one inch (to 37 inches).  However, today I asked my husband to measure my waist circumference to see if he got the same thing, and it is clearly 35 inches now.  I don’t know what I was doing wrong the other day, but I do know it is easier for a second person to get the waist and make sure the tape is straight for measuring.  So- the good news is that my waist circumference has gone from 38 to 35 since the first week of January.  Also, I was down another pound today!  I know that I usually only report weight on Wednesdays and Sundays, but who can hold back good news like breaking into a new decade (as I call it).  I am at 149 from 166.  Hopefully, I settle down into this new weight and maintain it- Sunday will tell!  Until then I am going to do the work. 

While on this run this morning, I ran past a fast food restaurant.  Many times I run by at or between six to seven a.m. and the drive thru is always busy.  It saddens me to see so many people start their day with fast food.  I think to myself, what could be faster than oatmeal- it cooks in five minutes (or one minute if you get the instant alternative).  Also, I don’t know how much it costs but it seems like nothing is cheap these days, so I know unless you do it on a rare occasion, (which is wise) then it has to add up. 

I don’t want to come off as judgmental because I have had a love affair with fast food in the past.  Been there, done that!  Whoppers, Burgerville shakes, and Taco Bell all got much of my hard earned cash during my late teens and twenties.  It seemed like fast food and I’s love style was passionate in nature.  There were times I thought I could not live without it, and I had it all the time or mostly every time I drove passed a certain route.  Eventually, I started to change.  It was one of those- “it’s not you, it’s me” breakups.  After all, it was still the same greasy, fragrant food it had always been up until the end.  I started to change my orders, you know because I was such a health nut, I would order a whopper with no cheese, no fries, and water to drink; or just a bean burrito with only hot sauce.  How bad could that be, right?  Wrong!  I just remember how I always felt after eating it.  The food always made me feel guilty, unsatisfied, and wanting more.  Why should food make you feel like that?  The good news is it doesn’t have to.  I have never felt that way after oatmeal, smoothies, fruit, veggies and hummus, rice and beans, etc.  Good food is good to you!  This is the guy we keep, ladies and gents!

So that is why it makes me sad to see people starting their day with fast food.  Why not set yourself up for success and happiness?  I know why…we just don’t.  I have made those choices over and over again.  Does that mean we have to?  Are we doomed by early learned eating habits, or can we grow and change our patterns?  Luckily I believe in change!  I hope you do too, because life is too short not to make the most of each day and give yourself your absolute best commitment to health and happiness.  May everyone drive home not thru to eat today!