Believe it. If you have known me for the past 24 years of my life, you know that I eat pretty healthy but when it comes to cookies, icing, candy and chocolate I don't like to hold back
(I miss the PIT at wake sometimes...that froyo, those toppings, that icing oh man). I used to store candy/chocolates in my bottom left drawer at work until about two and a half weeks ago. It all started 4/21 to be exact. I would open the drawer at 10am for a chocolate covered peanut snack, open it at 1pm for an after lunch dessert and come home and have ice cream with cookies on it with Ben right before bed. I was addicted. Then, I found out my cholesterol was 19 points too high. While that's not bad, I still decided it was time for me to do something about my addiction. So, since April 21st, I have not had cookies, cakes, icing or chocolate! Well, besides proten bars with chocolate chips, but there is a greater balance of health in those bars. Now, my desserts consist of peanut butter and pretzels, granola (
homemade with dried fruit, nuts, oats and sweetened with honey and some sweetened condensed milk), fruit, and cereals like apple jacks, frosted flakes and captain crunch (
those may be sugary but they have whole grains and fiber so it's better than a chocolate chip cookie in my book!).
With these massive changes in my life (
seriously, massive) I actually noticed a change in the way my body feels, my energy levels and my mood. All three are much more positive and I feel a lot better!
On Tuesday morning, I read an article in the Shape magazine from last month that I finally got to called "Mood Munchies." This article verified what I have been feeling and made me realize it really wasn't just in my head. Pretty much, it says we are what we eat when it comes to "feeling blue." A study showed that people who consume even a small amount of saturated fats
(all those things I was eating...WAS EATING) can alter your brain chemistry. The study said taht you have a 48% higher chance of suffering from depression
(all based on a 6 years study period).
So take it from a former sweets addict (I hope this sticks!), that you can do it!!!!! Leave a comment or let me know if you decide to change and how you feel. I'm thinking we can get a good blog roll out of this one.
Love,
Hannah
