Quality of Life?

Today it has been four weeks since I first visited my sorceress. I mean my nutritionist. Four weeks ago today I started on a diet that is designed for weight loss and glucose reduction.  I have been following the diet faithfully with two exceptions. I ate birthday cake for my daughter’s birthday and I had a hamburger barbecue yesterday at a horse show that went on much longer than I anticipated. It was delicious by the way. Not the horse show, the barbecue.

My results have been excellent. I have lost fourteen pounds. When I had my second nutritionist appointment last week, I was at a twelve pound weight loss which included a loss of 7.9 pounds of actual body fat!  I have a definite increase in energy. I sleep better. I am having fewer “digestive” issues.  In other words, physically, I am improving my life and maybe adding years to it. At least I hope so.

Mentally, however, I wonder if it is all worth it. I believe that my quality of life has diminished in some ways.  So while I may get a few more years, will those years be without one of my favorite things, eating the foods I enjoy.  I understand that I am in the weight loss part of the diet. When I get to my stated weight loss goal (14 more to go) I will be able to introduce sweets back into my diet in minor ways.  But I will never be able to enjoy the foods I love in the same way I did.

I really miss doughnuts. There are almost always doughnuts at work. I used to eat one after every other session. Boston Cream and French Crullers were my favorites. Now there are more doughnuts for my colleagues at Bethlehem Counseling Associates.  I know that my office neighbor, Bill Dougherty, is pleased with that!

I miss stopping at Weis for a few packs of Peanut Butter Kandy Kakes. I liked to put them in the freezer. When I ate them I would bite the frozen chocolate all around the outside and finish it off with the middle sponge cake and peanut butter treat!!

I miss siting down to TV with a pint of Hagen Daz Swiss Vanilla Almond Ice Cream.  The almonds were so evenly spaced in the pint that every spoonful contained an almond. I would let the vanilla ice cream melt in my mouth and then finish the spoonful off by crunching on the sweet delectable almond.  Yum!

I now avoid the bakery department at Wegmans. It was rare for me to cruise through that section without buying a piece of the most delicious white cake ever created.  Their black and white cookies are to die for too! Now I spend more time in produce. Oh boy. Kale vs. Cake. Yikes!

I love Middle Eastern food. Luckily I can still eat it, but, of course, in moderation. Damn you Ben Franklin and your famous quote “All things in moderation”. I’ve seen depictions  of you, Ben. I don’t think you followed your own advice!  Back to Middle Eastern food.  No more Baklava. The light layers of filo crust, interspersed with ground walnuts and sweet rose water glaze.  What is falafel without baklava? What is a kefta kabob without baklava? What is a spinach pie without baklava? I’ll tell you what it is. It’s a lower quality of life!

So, like so many things in life, it is all about balance. Eventually, I can eat a piece of baklava again. But that piece will be much smaller. I will need to savor every bite. There is a life lesson there. Enjoy the good things in life. Savor every good moment.  You don’t know when they will no longer be a part of your life.  Think about quality of life and what it means to you, personally.

It is almost time for my mid morning snack of yogurt, the highlight of my eating day. Today it is Chobani Black Cherry Greek Yogurt.  I know for the few minutes that I am eating it, my quality of life will be good!