Yes, but how?

I had a pastor once give a sermon where he gave this illustration: he'd borrowed a friend's book.  Some book on some topic of life discipline.  [With two brothers in the ministry, I'm realizing that pastors read these kinds of books.  A lot.]  In the margins, his friend had jotted the same three letters over and over.  YBH.  When he asked his friend later what the letters stood for the guy said, "Yes, but how?"  Like - I agree with this statement, but how do I accomplish it?  Love thy neighbor: Yes, but how?  Eat healthy: Yes, but how?  Live an active lifestye: Yes, but how?  This post isn't about faith.  It's about those pesky 5 lbs.

I love food.  In fact, I'd venture to say that I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with food.  I'm not hungry most of the time, but I do get some sense of release when I'm stressed and I can just exercise my jaw on something crunchy.  Or if there's something in the house that I know I love, there are times that I will casually think about how something tastes.  Then I can't stop thinking about how good that whatever-it-is would taste right. this. second. until I finally give in and go eat it.  See?  Told you.  Obsession.  I actually think it's pretty textbook.

As such, it is a constant battle for me not to throw the pantry door open wide and just gorge myself on everything inside.  It is also a battle for me to simply maintain my weight.  Like the majority of my gender, I'd be happy if I could lose 5-10 lbs.  [Did you hear that?  That was the sound of all the men Voxers hitting the "back" button to exit this post.  ;) ]  But why is that?  Is it because we're narcissitic?  Unrealistic?  Or is it possibly because 5-10 lbs means the difference between constant deprivation and actually eating some things that we love when we want to?  I don't know the answer, but that's my educated guess.

I have lived a happy, active lifestyle most of my life.  Until I graduated with my Master's, got married, and started my full time job.  I packed on 15 lbs in a matter of months.  I took about half of it back off immediately, but now I want to lose the other 8 lbs.  So here we are again.  Yes... but how?  I've come so far as to realize that I can't do what I used to do to lose weight.  My lifestyle has dramatically changed compared to what it was 2 years ago.  Now, I sit most of the day.  I have to prepare meals for my skinny husband, who might just blow away in the wind if I prepare calorie-restricted meals.  So yes, how do I take off those last 5 lbs, keep it off, and not feel like I'm constantly on a diet?

I had an epiphany last night.  And I think it's going to work this time.  I've finally gotten past just the "Yes"  I think I've figured out the "How".  Of course, only time will tell, because I haven't started yet, but it should be interesting to see if it works.  There are two facets to the aforementioned epiphany:

1. Know Thyself.  Where are the excess calories coming from?  For some people, it's soda or other empty calorie-ridden soft drinks.  By just switching from your 3:00 Coke to Diet Coke, some people can lift 250 calories out of their diets.  Well, I hate soda.  For some it's chocolate or other sweets.  Not for me, I mean - hey I love chocolate, but I'm pretty self-limiting and I only have it once in a blue moon. 
   
   No, for me, it's chips.  I have ZERO self-control when it comes to chips.  I'll sit down and eat half a bag at a time if I'm not paying attention.  I've been journaling my eating habits over the last week, and I've been brutally honest.  Anywhere between 10% and 20% (on a bad day) of my caloric intake comes from chips.  How sickening is that?  Another culprit?  Cheese.  And at restaurants, I blow a ton of calories on french fries.
   
   Another facet of knowing 'myself' is that I can't do moderation.  I have to have hard an fast "do's and don't's".  Black and white.  So you want to know how I plan on losing 8 lbs?  By completely cutting out chips, cheese, and french fries from my diet.  Not really limiting myself for anything else.  Because, after monitoring my calories, I found that I don't really overeat anywhere else.  This should be interesting.  But I did say there were two parts, so here's the second.
2. Move Thyself.  There's really no getting around it.  Anyone who looks great works out in some way, shape or form.  If not, they are a freak of nature and should be studied in a lab somewhere.  This will really play into #1 too, because you have to know how to make your workouts enjoyable - otherwise you'll quit, right?  I hate gyms, and I loathe treadmills.  So I've joined a running club that will get me outside and moving, and it will make me accountable to others.  I have block off time on my work calendar to participate in group exercise classes.  That's what I like to do.  And I use "like" very loosely, as I really despise working out.  Actually that one sentence should read "That's what I can tolerate."

Now as I stated before I haven't started either of these two things yet.  That means that today is Day 1.  And yes, we'll see how it goes.  If I had to guess?  I think I'm going to miss cheese most of all.