Before I went to college, my girlfriends and I had a serious discussion about the “Freshmen 15.” Those pesky 15 pounds every freshmen student gains because of the significant lifestyle change of having to figure out every meal on your own. Not to mention the additional beer calories.
Well recently I have experienced what I lovingly call the “Boyfriend 15.” Those pesky 15 pounds you gain with the significant lifestyle change of having someone who wants to break bread with you on a regular basis. Not to mention the additional wine with dinner calories.
I have, for as long as I can remember, had a LOVE/HATE relationship with food. What I can not figure out is when did I start to hate the fact that I HAVE to eat? I know deep down it is not healthy to feel this way about something that does so much good for you. I wonder how many of us are stuck in the routine or rut?
So along comes Shawn and I ate…and I ate…and I ate again. I didn’t exactly feel bad. I actually for the first time in a long time let myself enjoy the food I was eating. I would try and cut back where I knew I should but my foodie BF consistently had one response “Are you not going to eat that?”
I have never had the grand illusions of having the body of a supermodel, heck even of the petite variety (unless you count my unusually small hands and not breaking 5’4″.) I work hard on pounding the pavement (trying to hit 800 miles again this year). Catch me if you can…you totally can. But I loath the gym so all of my working out happens outside.
I eat the diet of a pescatarian (aka no meat, just fish). I eat lots of veggies and fruit. I can say no to sweets, but I have an unhealthy obsession with cheese. I love a good Italian dish and Mexican is bar far the easiest to prepare and eat out for a aquatarian (aka the same thing as a pescatarian :). If you want to make me really, really, I mean really happy…let’s talk sushi. I am not a huge snacker due to time and not being prepared. All in all I would say I eat normal.
So now that I have shared all of that…I think what I am trying to say is that I do not want to HATE eating anymore. I want to feel good about sharing an amazing meal prepared by a boyfriend that is happily challenged by the fact that he can not just cook me a steak! I want to love myself with an extra 15 pounds, because at the end of the day/month/year I am not going to remember the meals I skipped but the ones that I enjoyed. I want to be thankful that I have the option to eat nourishing food.
At Sam’s school one of the “punishments” for breaking a rule is called iMeal. The student is not allowed to eat the hot prepared meals but is provided two PB&Js instead. Initially I didn’t get it as a punishment. But recently it dawned on me that it is showing the boys that they should be thankful to receive a hot meal. and that was a great reminder that I should also be thankful.
So I am choosing to be thankful for my Boyfriend 15 because it means that I am happy. It means I am enjoying the gifts that God has given me. A person that wants to eat creative meals with me. The means to buy the food on the table. The experience of enjoying a new restaurant. And most importantly the change I feel about my relationship with food. No more hate….all kinds of LOVE now!
One of our homemade meals, tuna with avocado and a ginger and cilantro sauce. Zucchinni and Eggplant, tomatoes and feta. Um…yum!
