The Diet Plateau

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There comes a time in most diets when compromise begins to catch up with you. Decisions are made that are not in keeping with the guidelines of the diet. “Just one candy bar a day” easily becomes three or four. “This fast food restaurant does not have a good price on juice, so I will get a soda.” I have arrived at the point of the plateau in my vegan diet, and I have been there for months. I have lost 65 pounds in the first nine months, and then nothing for the last six. I don’t like it one bit, but what am I willing to do to get those last 30 pounds off of my belly?

Sugar is the devil, it is seductive, crafty, and a master at temptation. Sugar is almost everywhere, and in almost everything, and avoiding it is a life-long challenge for the plump. I can never eat just one cookie, or one piece of candy. Once I have one, it is only moments until I want a second one. The more I eat, the more I want. The scales tell the story in great detail.

It seems that I am making just enough compromises to stay exactly where I am. It is a basic principle of weight loss that your calorie output must exceed your calorie intake to lose weight. You will either need more exercise or fewer calories to make the fat go away. For me, controlling my diet was always easier than adding hours of exercise to my schedule, so that has been my focus. Lately, there have been about 300 calories a day in my diet consisting of sugary snacks or drinks, or my biggest enemy, CHEESE!

Many cheeses are 70 or 80% fat, and it all seems to collect at my belly button. When I go out to eat, most restaurants serve entrees that are either meat-based or cheese-based, and meat is not an option. Other people in my family eat cheese, so it is always in the refrigerator. I love cheese! Pizza is awesome! However, if I eat it more than once a week, I know I am going to stay at my plateau, and that just doesn’t work for me.

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I have become lax, and I am making too many compromises with my diet. It will take new dedication, new determination and all the self-discipline I can muster to make these extra calories go away. For me, that will not be enough. I also have to give my body and my mouth to God daily, and give up the right to eat what I want. My body is His temple, and junk food doesn’t belong here.

“Lord, I surrender my body to you right now. I ask that you take control of my mouth and my mind, and keep me away from food that will harm your temple. Help me to stay away from sweets, soda and fatty foods. Help me to enjoy the fruits, nuts, vegetables and whole grains You have provided to keep me healthy. I give up the right to eat candy today. I give up the right to French fries. I surrender my pizza craving to you. Please control me, and make my body beautiful. Amen.”