Hello Dear Reader,
We rarely think of the cost of healthcare in the UK as it's universally free at the point of delivery. If we paid health insurance then the healthier we were, the less we would pay. Un healthy? Then we'd pay more. But what we do have to remember is that the pay back for an unhealthy life is an unhealthy body. In moderation, a cake, a glass of wine, a larger than recommended portion will not hurt us. There's a great expression, 'if you fall in a rut, there's no need to furnish it'. So, if I give in and decide on a gluten free biscuit or cake, there's no need to eat the entire biscuit tin or cake. It will be another layer of self discipline that I'm going to have to master.
I'd fallen into a rut of too many carbs, portion sizes too large and too many snacks. The cost I had to pay was joint pain, loss of muscle tone, lack of sleep and general poor health. If I'd had to pay for all that, then it would have seriously cost me. I'm going to invest a lot more into me in the future although it will need to be financially sustainable.
My high protein, low carb diet is very effective for losing weight and even Slimming World advocates it. They call it SP, speed food and protein and they suggest a couple of SP days a week. Currently, everyday is an SP day which is fine as this way of eating levels my blood sugars which means I don't feel hungry. It does mean I get thirsty and I'm drinking 2 - 3 litres of water a day. It all sounds oh so virtuos but I can assure you that if I didn't like it then I wouldn't do it. I've never been an emotional eater, I'm the opposite. If I'm upset, anxious or worried, then I can't eat. I'm just a big eater who could probably give Adam Richman a run for his money in an eat off. The biggest change I'm going to have to make is to respect food like I respect money. I'm going to have to budget my eating and that's where the simplicity of Slimming World as a long term eating plan works. I will be able to eat plenty of healthy food and the food items such as biscuits or cakes are budgeted as my body can't afford to eat many of them once I get to target weight. It's the same with a financial planning, I have to spend carefully on what we need such as running the house and car and allow a little bit of money for things we could easily overspend on if we were not careful.
Many, many years in the past we used to borrow money, for example to make a major home improvement. We used to pay if off, then borrow again and start the whole cycle again. I broke that and haven't borrowed again and remained debt free since 2011. This time I'm determined to do this with my health. This time is the last time and I'm not going back.
Watch this space and hold me to my word.
Until tomorrow,
Love Froogs xxxxxx
