EPIPHANY:

I've come to the conclusion that there are certain attitudes and adjustments that I'm going to have to make that might not meet the dictates of the dieting world.

A) Life is too short. By that I mean, don't be so fanatical about your diet that it impacts the lives of those around you. I recently found myself trying to talk my children out of having a birthday cake because I knew I wouldn't be able to resist it. My advice to myself; Lighten UP! Life is too short. One small slice of cake isn't going to make or break your diet. It is but a small moment. Enjoy it and then move on.

B) We can enjoy our favorite foods as long as we realize we can't eat like teenagers anymore. I remember when Dolly Parton first lost all her weight and someone asked her how she did it. She said she still ate all the foods she loved, but she had only one or two bites and then walked away. She didn't feel deprived and she didn't feel the need to bury herself in guilt. In the end, she ended up with a figure we would all be thrilled to possess.

So instead of becoming a hard core health nut, which is what I was trying to do--and have been for years--and obviously it hasn't been working, which means it isn't right--I should concentrate on individual foods one meal at a time. For instance, today I made grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup for my family for lunch. This has been a favorite of mine since I was a child, and since It's been a favorite for fifty years, the odds that I was going to abandon it were slim. Therefore, I made small changes in the right direction.

1. I buy my bread at the bakery section of my grocery store and have them slice it thin.

2. White cheese is always a better choice than yellow cheese, and especially dry cheeses.

I use provolone instead of cheddar. It's lower in fat and has no harmful dyes.

3. Instead of frying the sandwich in butter as we did when we were little, I brush the

slices with cold pressed extra virgin olive oil. Much healthier than any other option.

4. I allow myself to enjoy one sandwich instead of two and half a cup of soup, instead of

a whole bowl, and I find I'm quite satisfied.

5. If I do find I'm still hungry (not likely) then I can eat a few almonds and I'm good.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, listen to your heart. There's too much conflicting information in the world today and the Lord will guide you in all the righteous desires of your heart. Remember he placed all these foods on the earth for our benefit and ENJOYMENT. So enjoy.