The term "Diet"

For those of us that have struggled with weight for a long time, the word "diet" stirs a pot of emotions.

Say it to yourself: di-et...

What is the first thing that comes to your mind? For me, it is a picture of when I was 17. That was the last time I was at my ideal weight. Its been 12 years and 60 pounds since then.

The second thing that comes to mind bad memories of feeling hungry and bland, tasteless food that I would never dream of eating in my normal routine. And the last on my top three list... guilt. Guilt for letting myself put on this weight. Guilt for not doing something about it sooner. Guilt for all the "cheating" I've done on various programs. And lastly, guilt for not sticking with any of those diets.

I sense that others that have battled this problem have the same feeling. Well today is the day that I start thinking differently about this word. It no longer is going to be banished to that realm of "four letter word" that should never be spoken. Why? Well, "diet" is by definition what you customarily eat. So if I want to "eat healthy" my "diet" is healthy food that I routinely eat. Not some horrible tasting, pre-boxed or package food that is forced at me. To succeed in my new health life, this has to be the first step. Find out what is healthy for me and re-engineer my way of eating to be healthy.

Tonights task... read the USDA guidelines for women my age.