Rules of Dieting

I should make clear, right up front, that I am not a nutritionist. Nor a doctor. Nor an expert of any kind. So when I tell you today's post is about the rules of dieting, please note they are my rules.

My blog, my rules.

I'm not great with rules. I'm the first to admit that. So I guess you could say these are more things I've learned on my ongoing weight loss journey and less rules. Besides, rules tend to make us not want to follow them. It's the rebel in us all. I get that. So fine. We won't call these "rules". We can call them "guidelines." Whatever works, right?

Anyway, whatever you decide to call them, here are Dyana's Rules of Dieting, in no particular order:

Rule #1 - Never let yourself get to that point where you're telling yourself, and everyone around you, that you're starving. This inevitably results in over-eating.

Rule #2 - If you break rule #1, eat a small portion of whatever you're consuming and drink at least two glasses of water with this meal. If you think you're still hungry, wait at least one hour before eating again. I have this rule because usually, if I wait that long, I'll find I'm really not hungry anymore. It's when I don't wait that I end up over-eating and then wind up feeling guilty and gross over the whole mess.

Rule #3 - If you break rule #2, go work out. Go for a walk or run or for a bike ride. Head to the gym for some cardio. Dance around your living room. Doesn't matter what you do, just do something. The best thing you can do when you actually do over eat is exercise.

Rule #4 - Don't break rules 1 and 2!

I broke rules 1 and 2 tonight, but invoked rule #3 and am glad I did. One of the best lessons I've learned in all this is that determination, or coraje as we say is Spanish, goes a long way!

Here's to the strong-willed!
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Observations from Married Life

I have never been one to watch the news. Prior to being married, I lived in a bubble, a bubble where the morning, evening, or nightly news simply did not exist. Neither did televised sporting events. Sure, I might have gone to a SuperBowl party here and there, but honestly I was in it for the commercials. And the food, of course.

As luck would have it, I married a man who is a news and sports junkie. He can watch CNN for hours. And he loves watching almost any televised sporting event. I've even caught him watching bowling tournaments!

When we first got married, his constant news watching really grated on my nerves. Seriously. But after a time, the news became white noise. And then, much to my surprise, and not infrequently to my chagrin, I actually started wanting to watch the news.

Same with the sports. Now granted, I won't voluntarily watch a bowling tournament. Don't ever expect that to change, either, but one never knows. Football, however, I've actually learned to love. So much so that during the AFC Championship game this year, he keep flipping the channels during the game. I finally had to tell him to put the game on and leave it on, as I wanted to watch it. HA! Even as I type that, I can't help but wonder, "who are you?!"

Some might think I'm trying to change myself to accomodate who my husband is. And maybe I am, to some degree. I, however, prefer to call it evolution. After all, don't we all grow, change, evolve over time? And if my husband and I evolve together, won't that ultimately make us a stronger couple?

Here's to healthy evolution!