Everyone knows that starting a healthy diet is difficult, especially if you've eaten the same way for most of your life. Even after you start a new diet, it is hard to not cave in and eat that cupcake. Will power is an extremely difficult thing to have, and really difficult to maintain when our bodies are addicted to things like sugar and caffeine. These are some struggles I have been going through with a new diet I started a couple weeks ago. This is strict for me; no extra sugar, basically no bread, very little protein, etc. So far this diet has been a blessing and a curse.
1. Getting hungry.
Since I have cut out so much of my "normal" diet, I've been hungry a lot more than usual. This is not such a bad thing, however. It is okay to feel a little hungry at times, because Americans are so used to eating a lot of food each day. This feeling, however, is something that I will need to get used to. I shouldn't eat to be full, I should eat what my body needs, and before now my body has been wanting the sugar I'm addicted to.
2. No more sweets.
Oh, this is a hard one for me. I am such a sugar-holic. Not to mention, the cafe I work at makes dozens of pastries each morning, and I am now forced to stand behind them, smelling the deliciousness, and not being able to eat a single one. End results, just think of the end results Hayley.
3. Having a burger is hard.
Now, because I am basically cutting bread out of my diet unless I know I am going to work out hard that day, I do not really have a lot of options for typical meals anymore. There seems to be bread with everything now, in one form or another. Again, with the cafe I work at, we mainly have sandwiches or other food with bread. All I really want is a burger, but it's just not the same without a bun.
4. Say goodbye to ice cream.
Yup, here it is. Here is where I may or may not want to gouge my eyes out because ice cream is no longer on my agenda to eat. No more runs to the local ice cream stores near my house, or late night drives to Cumberland Farms to get a pint of ice cream to chow down with friends. Such a sad state of affairs, but it must be done.
5. People will roll their eyes.
Someone might ask me if I want a piece of cake at a birthday, or if I want some of the pizza they just ordered, and I have to decline. Most people give me props for actually sticking to my diet so far, but there are countless eyes that roll when I tell them the real reason I can't have whatever piece of food they are offering. Sorry, I want to be healthy and better myself, and actually have will power not to cheat on my diet.
6. "Sorry, you can't have that anymore" -Brain.
There are certain foods that have become a routine for me in certain situations. If I get up late and don't have time to eat breakfast at home, I usually eat a pastry, or the famous blueberry muffins at my work. God those blueberry muffin are to die for. I was used to just snacking on them so nonchalantly. Now I look at them and my brain just goes, "Nuh uh don't you dare touch that". I now bring a little thing of almonds or have fruit at work if I really need a pick-me-up.
7. No more midnight snacks.
These were never good for me in the first place because I should be sleeping at that time. But, you know, sometimes you just wake up and have a craving for Chex Mix or something. But no more, no more.
8. Portion control.
Since I have started this diet, I have cut my portion size basically in half. One of the main reasons why people in the United States are so over-weight is because of our portion sizes for meals are so huge! We intake way too many calories per day, and even if you still eat the same things in a day, if you cut your portion size down you will be much better off, unless you're under other circumstances (like body building workouts or something).
9. Fried food is not your friend.
Growing up on Cape Cod, there are seafood place, everywhere. No matter what town you are in, there will be at least one seafood joint there for your pleasure. Unfortunately for me, I will not be partaking in the eating of any fried foods for quite some time if I can help it, and not just because of my diet. In general I have never been a huge fan of fried food, so now I'm just cutting it all together.
10. Finding new places to go out is hard.
I have been to so many cafes and restaurants on the Cape, and it is really hard to accommodate to my dietary needs fully. Most everything has sugar in it, and unless you are just going to eat a salad or smoothie, there will be some form of bread in whatever you are eating. Thankfully there is a vegan place a few minutes down my house called Karma (anyone on the Cape definitely check it out, whether you're vegan or not, it's in Brewster). I am by no means vegan, not even vegetarian (I love my meat), but this place has probably the best tasting, healthy food around. Plus their smoothies are to die for.
11. Exercise is also essential.
For me, it cannot just be about dieting. Dieting is a huge part of becoming healthier, and having a healthy well balanced diet can improve your life so much. But for me, exercise is also insanely crucial. I work out six days a week, and I am finally starting to feel better about myself.
Sometimes you will eat that fried chicken, or have a whole pint of Ben and Jerry's, it happens. Just remember that it's okay to slip up sometimes, but if you really want to commit to becoming healthier, you cannot stray from your goal. Think of the end results, and tough your way through it. Because in the end, it will be worth your wile.
