Eating Healthy

You know, after a while you really do 'get used' or should I say 'not notice' as much of a difference in eating low/no fat items compared to their full power counterparts...
Since Thanksgiving I have lost 26 lbs. I get asked 'how' a lot...well, it has been a looooonnnnggg road for me, one of which will last my entire life. When I was in 7th grade I really began to notice my weight, I was big for a 7th grader. My mom took me to the doctor who put me on a diet, which I was ok with as I wanted to play volleyball. I had said that I would not play looking the way I did at the time. It was my choice. Some may think a young adolescent should not be put on a diet, but I will tell you that I think I was somewhere in the adult size 16 range. I was unhappy. I loved to eat. And I was in no danger of becoming anorexic. Yeah, no chance of that here! So, I dieted and lost, played volleyball and although I wasn't tiny through school by any means, I don't think I was too bad. I grew taller also, so that helped! LOL And so it went, I can document my life based on my weight at the time...-went up my first year at college...-down again at the end of college...-had my first baby (that says it all there)...and up and down and up and down! Whew!
About 5 years ago it hit me...not only do I love to eat, but I am also an emotional eater. That year I had a very rough class of kids. It wasn't just typical naughty kids, it was abuse, violence, neglect etc. It took a toll on me. I cried so much over this group of kiddos and every night I went home and ate all night long! That summer I said "enough" and one of my dear friends became my partner and we lost together. We emailed 3 times a day with our calorie count and guilted each other to exercise. I had the want to do it and I did-lost 30 lbs and kept it off! Well, most of it...I think I gained 8-10 lbs back, but now it is off and I plan to keep it off. Again, I have the help of a wonderful friend and we are doing it together. I know that this is my life. I can't just loose and go back to my old habits. I will never be able to eat what ever I want. What I do want is to be healthy. I want my kids to see how to eat in moderation and to make good choices (and that fun treats are just that, treats!). I still look in the mirror and see (ok, I not going to be PC here) 'fat girl'. But I know that I am healthier and my clothes are fitting so much better-ok I had to buy smaller clothes and any excuse for a new wardrobe is awesome!!
And my eating habits are helping my family eat better too. Tim is down 12 lbs too! So our 'how' is this: "Everything is permissible for me"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"--but I will not be mastered by anything. 1 Cor. 6:12