Crossing Over
I had an enlightening conversation with my SIL the other day. We were talking about weight loss (of course) and eating habits. She reads my blog periodically and remarked at how healthy my food choices are. I told her that overall, yes, I choose healthy foods, however, I am still struggling with emotional/compulsive eating and those “fall off the wagon” moments that are keeping me from achieving my weight loss goal.
I shared with her that I often feel like even though I have lost over 60 pounds and have basically maintained that loss for a year, I still don’t feel “successful” because I haven’t reached my goal weight. She disagreed and told me that I am a success because I have “crossed over.” This made me laugh as I had visions of a blinding light, choir of angels and a voice whispering “step into the light!!!”
She explained that compared to the way I used to eat, the foods I used to choose, the inactive life I used to live; I have crossed over into the “no going back zone.” She asked me if I could imagine eating the way I used to and going back to that life. Without hesitation, my answer was no. I have “tried on” that feeling of “back then” when I have fallen off the wagon or made unhealthy food choices and I know that I cannot stay in that place very long. I’m uncomfortable there. Living that daily is a distant memory.
I have changed. I even took a look back to the food choices from beginning days of the blog…
I realize my food choices have changed, too. (Thankfully, my pictures have gotten a little better also!) I no longer rely on processed, fat-free, sugar-free this and that. I have slowly made better and healthier choices along the way.
So, this journey continues for me and I will keep trying to head into the light, making choices for health rather than just loss!
I’ve crossed over. And I like it here 
Thank you, M, for helping me see that “success” is in the small changes that you make for a lifetime!
Have a great day, everyone!
What small changes have you made toward a healthier lifestyle?
Questions? Email me! aloserforlife@gmail.com
19 comments
EXCELLENT post, Marisa! Yes, it’s all about baby steps, isn’t it? I think the biggest thing for me has just been allowing myself to enjoy everything in moderation and not having any “off limits” foods. I can have whatever I want, I’m just not going to make a meal out of it. Life is too short to go without dessert forever. But once a week or on a special occasion is perfectly acceptable. Keep doin’ what you’re doin’ girl. You’ll get there.
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This is such a great post! I think its important to know that just like your food choices have changed… so will the emotional eating. Its something that takes so much work and time. Its always a work in progress. I bet a year from now you’ll look back at the blog and feel even BETTER at how much you succeeded in mindless eating!
Keep up the good work
It’s good to look back and realize how far you’ve moved forward isn’t it? You (ok, we!) should be proud of our journey to a healthier you….I wonder what we’ll be eating a year from now???
Great post!
Every post I’ve read this morning could have had “Dear Sharon” written at the beginning. Isn’t it amazing how it works that way? The scale showed an unanticipated weight gain and I was discouraged. But along with you, I’ve crossed over, I like it and I’m not going back no matter how long it takes to get back to goal. So bring on the choir of angels and let em sing.
I also believe I have “crossed over.” Although I may not always make the best decisions, I can now resist ordering french fries and go for a salad. I also have drastically reduced the amount of meat in my diet and now eat a lot more beans, vegetables.
Great post!
woah. That is a huge difference. I think my life is evolving similarly. I’m glad you have such a great long term perspective. You really are a loser for life.
It’s funny. We are very alike because all of your “old” pictures could have been taken by me. I was that girl. Absolutely. The more I read and research, the more I understand. The more I understand, the more I know I could never go back. My off the wagon moments have changed a little too. It’s extra sweet potato fries, guacamole, or banana soft serve. 2 years ago, it would have been the highly processed fatfree junk. Crossing over ! I like it!
I LOVE this post and the idea of crossing over! I feel like i’m definitely on the right side of my journey, but I know I have a much longer want to go towards healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle but that doesn’t overwhelm me – it excites me! I still eat some of the things you pictured above and i’m slowly, but surely, working my way to more natural foods. If you’d asked me 2 years ago if I’d even be interested in that, the answer would have been no. I just wanted to fit in my clothes. Now, I want to be more healthy too – great feeling!
incorporating veggies into my life & letting go of lean cuisines was probably the biggest change i’ve made for my health w/in the past year. i LOVE it.
props to your SIL for setting you straight! eating treats doesnt make you unhealthy…learning how to eat and cook and rely on REAL foods is what is most important
I don’t drink soda and haven’t for 10 yrs..and I rarely to never eat processed foods or anything from a box. I try to cook everything on my own and keep it in its natural state.
Your SIL is a wise woman! And she is absolutely right. Even if I fall off the wagon a little, I know that the “majority” of my daily food choices are good. I still have my moments of weakness (hello ice cream!), but that’s ok.
Great post!
Wow, this is great. You are so encouraging. I needed to hear this- that your choices change naturally over time, and that there comes a time when you have ‘crossed over’ and there is no going back. The transition is made! Well done!! I can’t wait for that time, but like you, I probably won’t even notice that it’s happened until someone else points it out!
Ah Marisa, it is like you plucked that thought out of my head. I feel like I have failed because I haven’t gotten off that last 10 pounds, and yet I have changed so much about my whole life.
I like this side, too
Great post! You have a great SIL! And you have come SOOOO far!!!!
I think I “crossed over” when I stopped using food to deal with my emotions. It took quite some time (and the work is really never completely done…). I had gotten so used to numbing my feelings with food. And it wasn’t an “all or nothing thing.” Rather, I started to “use” food less and less often. And I think once I “used” food only occasionally, I had “crossed over.” I will never go back to that place… But I will always have to be mindful around food…
The crossing over is so funny! Yes you have made some great new habits and just look how your diet has evolved and become even healthier. You have much to be grateful for.
I have made many of the same changes in my food and lifestyle choices.
for some reason it initially surprised me that it is FOREVER babysteps…no matter how long Ive been on this path.
a daily choice and a daily layering of good habits upon another…