Sometimes I forget exactly how easy it is to eat right and to get simple exercise.
Today, a friend asked me to tag along on a hike near New River. Even though I was tired from working the night shift, I thought a 9 a.m. walk would be a good thing. So we went, and for an hour and half hike. She is a fast walker and a fat girl like me had to have a break half-way through, but it was good walk. My heart rate certainly got a-goin’. It didn’t really help that I kept talking a lot…I felt sorry for my friend because I’m a talker…
Once I got home, I was hungry and wanted breakfast. Part of the conversation with my friend was about food. Surprising, right? She mentioned the McDonald Egg McMuffin and it is low cal, fat content and how that was partly because they used Canadian bacon. When I got home, I jumped in the car and headed to the grocery store. I decided that good breakfast — that was kind of light but filling — would a couple of scrambled eggs, some Canadian bacon and a slice of sourdough toast. And it was good, and I didn’t feel guilty.
Sometimes it is so simple, so obvious…I don’t understand how I missed it! 
Where is New River?
Just south of Bandon…I’m pretty sure that was the name of the park…
I REALLY wish you hadn’t mentioned McDonalds. BAD GINGER!
Ginger, I read your sugar article today and my heart goes out to you. You are addicted to sugar and carbs and will not get control of your weight until you limit your intake. There are many books on this subject and they make a lot of good common sense. Do you think the typical American diet 50 years ago contained nearly as much sugar as the average person consumes today? We all like sugar, I just ate a sucker, but we have to learn it has a proper place. The only way to start is to get control of all carbs. That means bread, pasta, rice etc. are out. Get your carbohydrate macronutrient from vegetables and fruit and make sure every meal (including snacks) contains protien and fat. Nuts are a dieter’s nightmare because they contain a lot of calories and are usually salted. Many contain good essential fat so save them for salads in raw form or pre-measure a small amount for a snack that includes some meat and fruit. You talk about treats a lot in your writing. A treat is just that, a treat, limit them to once per week until you make real progress.
A lot of people have lost weight and there are no short-cuts. You have to eat right and make some sacrifices. It is hard at first, but very worthwhile. I promise after two weeks of cutting out sugar you will feel so much better. You will be able to slowly add some back if you want, but right now your body needs a radical change. Do not cut out fat whatever you do, you need fat in your diet and the fat-myth is a huge reason why so many people are addicted to carbs and can’t lose weight. If you get the proper balance of carbs, fat, and protien, you will not feel hungry, you will lose weight, have energy, your skin will be better and your mood will elevate. Right now that sucker has run its course and the momentary pleasure I got from eating it is gone and I feel tired and run down. So much for having energy for a workout tonight huh? Wrong! My next meal will be properly balanced in the proper portion and I’ll be back on track. Slip-ups will happen, but the only way to handle them is to immediately get back to eating right.
Some good books: Body for Life Cookbook, The Zone, The South Beach Diet, The Paleo Diet, The Primal Blueprint (good reviews, haven’t read).
Good websites: Mark’s Daily Apple, Natural Bias, Skwigg (a blog), CrossFit (intense exercise web community, lots of good nutrition advice on boards)