Day 1 was a complete failure.  So, today is a "Day 1 retake."  I didn't do the study in the book or any of the exercises.  This morning I am still hopeful and optimistic.  Thankfully our God gives us unlimited "do-overs" and I am confident I will succeed.

In assessing my failure, I have learned...
- I need to pack my dinner and eat in the office before bowling.  (Taco Bell is not "real" food.)
- I need to break my typical patterns of behavior in the evening and will come home and make myself a cup of herbal tea so I have something to sip on.
- I need to be fully present and aware of every bite and every sip whenever I consume anything to eat or drink.  I cannot do it on "auto-pilot" as part of a long-time habit or routine.
- I need to stop and pray.

Today I am going to meet with who I hope will be my accountability partner, and perhaps someone who will join me on this journey. Either way, I'll have someone to talk to who understands my struggles.

I'm reading the book, "Freedom from Emotional Eating."  I've read it through almost twice now, but still have not put it into practice.  Today is the day.  Next year I'll turn 60.  Even though I don't think I deserve it, I am still in pretty good health and want to enjoy whatever years I have left feeling strong, being active, and living life to the fullest!

I've been on a journey to health for most of my life, but really began to make some progress the past 18 months.  I'm not dieting.  I've learned I need to adopt habits and behaviors that become a part of the way I live every day.  We've heard it before, and I'm yet another example that diets simply do not work.

In addition to physical activity (note that I did not say exercise), I've come to learn that our bodies need "real" food -- that is food that is as close as possible to how it is in nature.  We process the health right out of our foods and create "frankenfoods" (not my term, but I love it) that actually destroy our health.  So, while I'm not 100% faithful in eating "real" food, I'm far more consistent than I used to be.

This blog is a tool to help me as I work through the book and actually do what the author suggests. The first step in this process is setting boundaries.  So, here they are...
1)  No eating and snacking after dinner.
2)  No more than one drink or glass of wine each day.
3)  No processed food.  Eat only "real" food.
4)  Eat using the Hunger Scale.  Eat when I'm at -2 and stop when I'm at +2.

If I can do these simple, yet basic things, I'm pretty confident I will get the results I'm looking for and will establish a new life-long relationship with food.  This is Day 1.  Wish me luck!  (Better yet, pray for me.)