Sometimes I find myself thinking of my body as a naughty child who will unpredictably do something mean — like putting on a couple of pounds when I expected better behavior!  We’ve all experienced that phenomenon of mysterious weight gain and plateaus when we have been diligently following the plan.  Don’t despair and don’t give up!  There is a reason for weight fluctuation, even if you can’t see it from the outside.

Focus instead on the things you can control and the results you can see.  You are in charge of the type of fuel you give your body.  If you avoid sugar, transfats, and high glycemic foods and eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, and lean meat in reasonable quantities, your health will improve and you will lose weight.  If you exercise regularly you will become stronger and all that blubber your autopilot saved for a rainy day will  eventually be burned up.  The scale isn’t the only indicator of how you are doing, or even the best one. How do you feel? How has your energy level changed?

If you are worried that you are doing something wrong and causing the weight gain, there is an inexpensive and easy diagnostic tool.  It’s called a pencil. Start writing down everything you eat, (every single bite!) when, and where.  After a few days look over your food diary and see if  you can find a pattern.  It may be that you are eating more than you thought, or that you have started eating a new food that is more calorie dense and is sabotaging your efforts.

Regardless, if you are doing the right things for your body, it will start cooperating.  Don’t be discouraged and never give up!

Eating to live and living for Christ,

Susan Jordan Brown