The Way It Is

            Do you give much thought to what you eat in a day?  If you're like many people, the growling of your stomach is like a dietary alarm clock that urges you to shovel something in your mouth as you press onward through each busy day.   That something could be a handful of pretzels, a donut, or a quick stop at a fast-food restaurant.  Anything to stop your stomach from complaining about its empty state.

            Our days are busy and hectic.  Out the door before dawn, a quick sprint through the drive-through of our favorite java joint, then to work or school.  You might grab a sticky pastry or a cellophane-wrapped breakfast sandwich somewhere during the morning or it may be a plastic-shrouded sandwich hastily wolfed down for lunch.  Many of us just skip the first two meals of the day then eat almost continuously from the dinner hour through until bedtime, packing in the calories like a traveler packing a suitcase for a European vacation.  Sound familiar? 

The Way We Feel

            "I just don't have any energy."  It's a common complaint.  Feeling sluggish in the morning we slug down a cup or three of coffee to jump start ourselves into reluctant motion.  Our mid-morning sleepiness is banished by the sugar rush from that donut or candy bar.  After a burger and a caffeinated soda we're ready for the afternoon-only to crumple a few hours later.  Revived by another soda and some potato chips we trudge through the afternoon to reach home in a state of weary exhaustion that can only be cured by an extended period spent on the couch with the remote control watching television.  Ring a bell?

Wish There Was A Better Way?

            Many of us feel overwhelmed by the responsibilities we carry upon our shoulders.  Holding down a job, caring for children, paying the bills, and the relentless pace of urban living all take their toll on our bodies and our sanity.  We are concerned about our health as well, but often feel powerless to make any positive changes.  We see the scale creep up a few pounds and our clothing fitting a little tighter and consider this the price to be paid for each year that we age.  Breathing a little heavier while going up stairs is just the way it's supposed to be.  Having a little more weight around the middle is excused as a "beer belly" or "love handles".  We heave a sigh instead of smiling in satisfaction at the image that greets us in the mirror each morning.

            Do you think that having a healthy, toned body is only for the young?  Would you like to enjoy renewed energy, improved self-esteem, and better overall health?  Would you like to lose weight in the process? 

            If you would, you're not alone.  Don't wait until next year, next month, or even next week to begin.  Make a commitment to yourself and to your family that good eating and healthful nutrition will play a more important role in your life.  Go ahead, start tonight.  Believe it or not you can fit healthy eating in your busy schedule.  It takes a little planning, but the long-term benefits of improved health and well-being are well worth it.

            What have you got to lose??

Joyce Koester is a registered nurse who works at a hospital in Austin, Texas.  She is also an INBF bodybuilder who recently titled in Novice Light Class.  Her hobbies include playing guitar, keeping her journal, and antique-hunting with her fiancé.