Giving Thanks, Day 7

Today, I'm grateful for media. Yeah, you read that right. Last night, Brett and I watched a documentary called "Supersize Me".

It's a documentary by a man named Morgan Spurlock from 2004. After seeing headlines about 2 teen girls suing the fast food industry for their obesity, Spurlock set out to see if they really could be held responsible. He went on a "McDiet"--eating only food from McDonalds, 3 times a day for an entire month. (When he started out, he was in incredibly good health. He consulted with 3 different physicians and a nutritionist during his experiment.)

Everyone knows fast food is bad for you. I know it. But we keep on eating it. Why? Because it's cheap and fast and easy, and it's everywhere.

Even knowing that it's "bad", I guess I didn't really put together just HOW bad it is. After 3 weeks, Spurlock's health had deteriorated so quickly and dramatically that all 3 doctors recommended he stop the experiment. (He did actually complete the last week.) His cholesterol had more than doubled. His liver enzymes had almost quadrupled. He gained 16 pounds. In three weeks. At the end of the 4 weeks, he ended up gaining over 20 pounds. He was fatigued and depressed.

Wow.

I eat way more fast food than I should (duh). I'm actually embarrassed about how much fast food I eat, so much so, that when people ask me about it, I usually lie about it. How sad is that? I am so addicted to this crap that I really do treat it like an addiction. I defend it. I hide it. Really, I do. Sometimes I really want some, so I'll stop while I'm out and get some food, pay with cash, and then throw everything away in the dumpster so Brett won't find it. (Brett, if you're reading this, don't hate me.) It is absolutely ridiculous the lengths I go to in order to get my "fix".

To be truthful, I either eat or get a large soda from a fast food restaurant 3-4 times a week on average. Sometimes up to 6 times a week, and occasionally twice a day. Ugh. I can't believe I'm admitting this. When I actually look at my behavior and my "need" for fast food, and especially what I do to conceal it, I am seriously appalled!

So, no more.

I'm going on my own "McDiet", and we'll see what happens.

For the next 30 days (starting today), I will not eat ANY fast food or drink any soda. Of any kind. (That's the part that's really going to kill me.) I know I should get into the habit of exercising as well, but let's start with baby steps. This is going to be more than enough to occupy me for now.

Whew. Yikes. I'm nervous.

I'm not going to post my current weight, mainly because I'm kind of embarrassed about how big I am, and it's none of your business. :D But I WILL track my weight. I'll post weekly updates on my diet--if I'm keeping up with it, if I've had any slip-ups, what's going on with my weight, and how I'm feeling.

Positive thoughts and prayers are appreciated as I take this first step to tackle my food addiction.