The Girl's World of Dieting.

“There are 17 grams of sugar in this medium sized orange.”

“Wow!  What about my apple?”

“About the same.”

“But it’s good sugar.”

“Sure.”

Good sugar? Bad sugar? It’s still sugar and you still have to count it.  And it’s still a pain.  Counting calories is frustrating, but even worse is when you count fat, sugar, carbs, saturated fat, and protein all at the same time—which is the current endeavor I’ve begun.  One night a week I do not count-and that’s when I’m eating at Judy’s house because truth be told, she can cook and I refuse to ban my taste buds from that God given talent. 

Last week I sat at my desk begrudgingly scarfing down a plate of leafy spinach and tomatoes while I overheard a male coworker comment on the fact that he has lost 15 pounds in the past couple of works.  Immediately I paused my ipod as he explained how.  

"I stopped drinking alcohol."

I then proceeded to to throw the rest of my salad away and turn up my ipod and drown myself in work.  Fifteen pounds lost by a coworker who eat outs everyday for lunch by merely abstaining from alcohol for a few weeks? Crazy.  And then you have me-- a girl who goes to a vigorous kickboxing class and walks every day at lunch and eats nothing but spinach and fish---who lost 7 pounds in two months.  Should I stop drinking alcohol? Is that the secret?

No.  Otherwise I would have lost weight months ago.

So what's the real secret? Guys just loose weight easier.  They stop eating or drinking one item and the pounds shed off.  I was told recently that men who undergo gastric bypass or lap-band surgery also loose weight amazingly faster than women.  I get it.  The primal role of a women is have babies and raise them and therefore by nature we need to be heavier than men.  Men are built merely to hunt. 


So I get it.  But that doesn't make it any less frustrating.  Especially when I drive past cookout after kickboxing.  (I want a milkshake so freaking bad)

I write this hesitantly since I often struggle with food issues (and can't even enjoy a freaking orange anymore).  But girls, don't stress about looking good.  If you're gonna stress about your weight, stress about maintaining a healthy body.  You could go on the twinkie diet and loose weight but most likely you'll end up without teeth and diabetes.  Coming from someone who has a family history of diabetes-that's not what you want.  Take care of yourself because you want to live longer and more satisfyingly, not because you want to look great in a bikini.