Rarely, do I write about health concerns. But over the last few months, I have been watching what I eat in an attempt to lose weight. I’m not grossly overweight but weigh more than I’d like to and certainly far more than the 96 pounds I weighed most of my life. Then, middle age hit, and the pounds go on and do not come off. I am trying to exercise by walking three times a week for an hour during each outing that covers 3-4 miles. I am not snacking. I am not a soda drinker, but rather prefer water or black tea (plain). Still, the scale reads the same day after day. Of course it fluctuates 1-2 pounds, but I do not seem to make progress towards loosing the five to ten pounds I want to be rid of.
But, this past week, I have done quite a bit of reading about sugar. Sugar is bad! Wow! I had no idea how much of it we consume daily, how many foods it has been added to, and just how much it contributes to gaining weight. I was reaching for “cereal” bars, and yogurt for breakfast. What a no-no! Tons of sugar! That one little cup of Oikos Raspberry yogurt I felt so good about having has 17 grams of sugar in it! And, the cereal bars….tons of added sugar in various forms….including corn syrup, which seems to be added to just about everything now.
The trouble with all this is finding a reliable source for information. Every site out there proclaiming to help you lose weight seems like a gimmick or way for some “doctor” to sell his book on the subject. I am a firm believer in two things, 1) knowledge is power, and 2) everything in moderation. So, I will keep reading – perhaps starting a digital file of sites I think are straightforward in their approach or their advice, and I will do a better job of watching how much sugar I take in through my diet.
My fitness pal is an app I use on occasion to track my calories and exercise levels. I was using my phone to do this but yesterday started tracking my progress on my computer. It was easier, so I will probably switch to that. I wear my Fitbit and strive for my 10,000 steps a day. I am making progress, but have not had a whole week of reaching the 10K mark consistently. I will strive for having seven straight days of 10K.
With this post I am giving myself two weeks to see how I do with the sugar cutbacks. This means more attention to diet, grocery shopping and food prep but I think I am up to the challenge. Armed with a little bit of information, I am on my way!
I am participating in the Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by TwoWritingTeachers. This challenge involves blogging daily in the month of March, as well as commenting on the posts of other bloggers. It is my second year of participation. Thank you for the opportunity to connect with others through this supportive community!
The Apples in My Orchard 
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