Diets Don't Work and Balance Does

You all had great comments in my "Baby Steps" thread! Now I'm going to take the risk that you might be completely sick of the food topic, and just share a little bit of my history. Why am I worrying about and studying into this stuff so much?

I've never had problems with being overweight (though my weight fluctuates 5-10 lbs rather easily if I'm not careful). But when I was a teenager (Somewhere around 16), I decided that I didn't like my body the way it was. I joined a gym and started working out a lot. I also decided to try to follow a super-healthy diet. I don't even remember now where I got my information from, but somehow I decided that in order to be healthy I should cut out fat from my diet almost completely.

That was not a good idea! While I still occasionally allowed myself a bit of protein in the form of almond butter, egg whites, or lean chicken, my diet mostly consisted of grains and vegetables. I was essentially a vegetarian, with a few exceptions, and probably not eating enough of the protein substitutes and good fats that even vegetarians recommend.

I believe my misguided attempts at health were even more detrimental because of my age. Teenage girls need (good) fat in their diets! Everybody does, particularly women! I now believe that my diet contributed to messing up my inner balance (hormones, etc.) and made me more tired and less healthy than I had been previously. And while I did gain some nice muscle tone from working out, my diet didn't help me become as skinny as I thought I should be.

It's by God's grace that I didn't carry that nonsense a step further and become anorexic or something like some teenage girls do. Instead, I became somewhat depressed (hormonal imbalance, probably helped along by the diet!) and gave up on the whole thing.

That experience has helped me to see how dangerous dieting can be. But I also know how detrimental it is to eat the "typical American" way, and believe that I would easily become fat and flabby (and more tired than ever!) if I didn't make an effort to eat healthfully.

Hence, my foray into serious study of this subject. I want to create an "Eating Lifestyle" for my family that is fresh, balanced(!) and natural. I want to get rid of most of the foods that don't have any nutritious value (except that I'll still make desserts the good old-fashioned way from time to time!) and replace them with foods bursting with nutritious goodness. I definitely want to incorporate plenty of good and natural fats into our menus (olive oil, fresh meats and dairy products).

If I seem overly-ambitious about this thing...I probably am. It's my nature to be...let's say, "thorough" ;o) But I really appreciate your encouragement to find the balance here, too. There are other things in my life right now that warrant just as much or more attention than what we eat, and I can't become fixated on this one thing, ignoring things like the necessity of our budget, or other areas where my time should be spent. I thank God for my sweet, patient husband who reminds me again and again that he loves me whether I do everything perfectly or not:o)

I believe healthy eating is a worthy goal, and I will continue to pursue it. But I'll try to do so in little steps, instead of giant leaps that send me sprawling flat on my face:o)