By Adam Stewart
From the Newsroom
I recently got some health news that made it clear to me that it is past time to get serious about eating better, exercising more and losing weight.
Don’t worry about me; it’s nothing dire, but it is important.
As I write this, I am on day seven of meticulously logging everything I eat, cutting out the majority of junk food, and staying within a calorie budget. I’m going to build up exercise gradually. I’ve made the mistake of overdoing it and hurting myself before. (Also, it’s been so hot. Why couldn’t this have come up during sweatshirt weather?)
This first week has been challenging at times, but hunger hasn’t been the issue. Other than one morning, I haven’t been particularly hungry. Hungrier than before I started, sure, but not distractingly so.
No, the challenge has primarily been my snacking habits and taste for junk food. I’ve been a snacker for as long as I can remember. My parents—both of them—cooked good homemade meals for the family, but I liked to snack frequently anyway. That was fine when I was a growing and active teen, but I never really stopped eating that way, and it’s a difficult habit to break after so long.
And, yeah, “junk food,” it’s right in the name. I know it isn’t good for me. But junk food wouldn’t be such a large, successful industry—PepsiCo alone is worth around $194 billion-with-a-B as I write this—if it wasn’t so satisfying.
It isn’t all hard, though. When I decided I needed to get to work on my health, I didn’t have a big stock of calorie-dense snacks tempting me. And there are healthier options that I like about as much as some of my junk food favorites, although I still have to be careful with portion sizes.
I got a little bit frustrated but also had to laugh about it one day when I was preparing my lunch and realized that, if I was serious about it, I had to count out the saltines I was going to add to my bowl of chili. “Has it really come to this?”
I know changing habits takes time, and it will get easier as I make new habits. And unlike previous times I’ve tried to get healthier, this time I have Michelle for support. She has been so patient the past week, letting me vent when I’ve been frustrated. I expect I will want her to join me for grocery shopping for a few weeks while I get used to new habits.
I’m not looking for diet recommendations or workout tips, but I would welcome a bit of encouragement if you see me around town.
Adam Stewart is the assistant news editor of The Hutchinson Tribune. He can be reached at adam@hutchtribune.com.