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Small Steps
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Lao-tzu
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We often think and feel that food is part of the problem, but I know personally it is really part of the solution.
This story is about my dog Oji. For about a year he's been gaining weight. Part of the problem is that I wasn't able to take him for long walks anymore. Any walk over 20 minutes would have him limping for days afterwards. So I would rest him, build up endurance with smaller walks but as soon as we did a longer walk, he'd be back limping. So I gave up walking him all together. Here's the first thing to remember: a little bit is better than nothing, so even 10 minute walks would have been a good idea.
He was also having bad days every couple of weeks when he wouldn't eat and he didn't seem to have any energy. I couldn't find any rhyme or reason or trend to these bad days.
I started cutting back on his food because he was getting so heavy. He wasn't eating that much to begin with, and I was worried that he wasn't eating enough to cover his nutritional needs. When I was down to giving him only half of what was suggested I couldn't cut back anymore, but he kept gaining. We've changed foods several times because he would build up allergies to it. Finally I decided to go to a dog food was grain-free. Maybe, I thought, it was a gluten allergy.
Good news. Four weeks later: he's lost weight (you can see his waist again); he hasn't had a low energy day since; and we are now walking 40 minutes without any sign of soreness or injury. Oh and he's eating more than ever before. So eating more and losing weight -- I love that idea.
I've found several examples in my life where food was actually a part of the solution. When I found the right foods for me, the problem didn't seem as big or the challenges so hard:
- If I eat a good breakfast, I have a greater chance of making better food choices throughout the day. And I'm less likely to get cranky or depressed.
- If I eat protein for breakfast, I am better able to focus, make better food choices and I find I don't obsess over what I'm going to have for lunch.
- If I have a little bit of protein (Laughing Cow wedge) and a little bit of fat (olives) with a crispbread and some fruit at about 3 or 4 in the afternoon I'm less likely to overeat at dinner and I don't get cranky.
Yes, this edition was mostly about a dog and his food and my food choices. Keep in mind that
there are two other dogs in this household that don't have the same
problem. So what was right for Oji
wasn't necessarily right for the other dogs. And what works for me doesn't necessarily work for others. Find the foods that support you and your journey.
What foods increase your energy? What foods can you eat more of and still lose weight? What foods keep you going?
How will you make food a part of the solution this week?
photo: Oji, 2008 by Perceptions Unlimited
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What did you do to rev up your motivation last week?
Just a note as to how my week went: My motivation revved up and I lost 3 pounds. Part of that was normal recovery from travel, weighing in in lighter clothes AND part of it was getting motivated to make the better choices again. Thanks for sharing the journey with me.
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Harvard School of Public Health on choosing healthy protein foods.
The dog food I'm now using is Evo. You can check it out at www.evopet.com |
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Focus 90% of your time on solutions and only 10% of your time on problems
Anthony J. D'Angelo
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