Funny story, I brought some egg whites with me today to warm up in the microwave for part of my breakfast. I had them in a small tupperware container that I planned on popping in the microwave for a few minutes.  Like I mentioned, I moved to a new building at work and am surrounded by all new people. I asked a lady if I could use her microwave since the community one is not up and running yet.  Before I could put the whites in the microwave she and another woman stopped me and were in awe of what I was doing with my egg whites.  They had never seen microwaved eggs/egg whites.  WHAT? I can't be the only one who does this right?? They proceeded to ask me how it worked and what they would be/look/taste/feel like when I took them out.

After answering their questions with a mini MICROWAVE EGG 101 course,we sat and talked about nutrition and dieting in gernarl.  One of the Lady's told me about a diet her hair dresser was doing where she only ate 500 calories a day for three months along with a daily shot…EEK!!.  The other lady joined in and talked about how someone here at work tried it and lost a ton of weight. I immediatelysaid..of course she did…500 calories a day, anyone could lose weight if they STARVE THEMSELFS! They tried to help me see why it was a healthy diet and how it worked….I would not have it.

I talked to them about my past struggles with diet, exercise and limiting my food. They became very interested. They proceeded to ask me a million questions about diet, exercise, eating healthy, what I did then and what I do now. I told them about my past and how unhealthy I was and talked with them about what how my entire life has changed because of it.  They proceeded to asked questions about splenda, soda, lifting weights, cardio, calories, on and on.  It was crazy to hear all of their thoughts on nutrition and health and what they thought was healthy. I can't tell you how off base they were with some of their thinking and ideas. I honestly don't think they knew any better, it was crazy! I felt like Wikipedia because I shared so much info that they had never heard of before. After the conversation as I walked back to my desk I heard one of them say to the other, I'm going to go buy some egg whites and try them out…the other said, ya me too! I walked away from that conversation feel grateful forhow far I've come and where I'm at today. I felt thankful for the things I know and the way I live my life. I immediately came back to my desk and started writing this post.

The other day I found an old journal. It was a food-calorie/feeling  journal. I sat down and read a few pages and my right away my eyes welled up with tears. I felt so sad for my old self and my thought processes. I just didn't get it. I was so off base from where I needed to be, yet so wrapped up in what I thought was ok. How could I ever have thought that way? My words portrayed someone that felt trapped and hopeless. It was obvious I believed I would never be able to over come "the battle".

While I was driving to work today, I was thinking about blogging and my blog topics and posts when I first started this blog 4 months ago. Most of them talked about struggles, feelings, and my quest for a healthy life. I began to think about my past and the problems I used to run into on a daily basis. As I thought about it, I realized that those problems and"demons" are gone.  They no longer exist. I tried to think about any negative behavior in regards to food or exercise or negative self image and guys I just don't have them any more.  I no longer count calories, I not longer stress about food, I no longer exercise to burn calories and punish myself for eating bad, I no longer put myself down.  Please believe that I am not saying this to honk my horn…I'm saying it in hopes that others may know it is possible. I never believed I could change. I never thought I would over come YO YO dieting. I never thought I'd have a healthy normal relationship with food. Never say never.

I watched the Biggest Loser last night and listened to the contestants from 11 weeks ago give their future healthy self advice.I got chills when I heard their plea with their future self.  They wanted more than anything to change, to be healthy and overcome their struggles. They reminded themselves of how trapped they felt and how important it was to overcome their battle. You could tell they had the strength within themselves, but just didn't know how to find it. Watching them cross the finish line after running a marathon was unbelievable. Although I have never been overweight or battled with their same issues. I've had my own, and watching them cross that finish line summed up my feelings perfectly.

I know it is possible to overcome our battles. No matter what are battles are, ED, weight, finances, religion, family, anything. If we are positive and fight the fight pushing forward with faith, we will overcome our battles and we will eventually cross the finish line. Don't give up, and don't you dare back down. 
 
Press on with happiness in your heart, positivity in your mind, and a belief that you can achieve WHATEVER you put you mind to. The solution to your problem lies in you!

CRAP…my egg whites are cold!