Sometimes when I eat fried chicken, french fries, and while enjoying the finger licking goodness I imagine what the food is doing to my body. I imagine the grease in my stomach, traveling through my intestines, and being absorbed into my blood stream. I can see the little grease globules getting trapped against the walls of my arteries. Then thoughts of heart attacks and stroke come to mind. So what do I do? I push those thoughts way out of my mind, lick my fingers and enjoy my fried fatty foods.
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| Image from clogged-arteries.howthingis.com |
Even with my vivid imagination and knowledge of what fried foods can do to your body I still find these foods creeping into my diet. Lately, I even feel like I’m eating them a bit more than I had been. This really does not make sense and is inconsistent with what I want for myself. I know being healthier and being at a healthy weight (which I’m not) will bring me more joy. So, yesterday, when I saw on the news that it was Fat Tuesday and Lent would be starting today, I though fried foods is what I should give up.
Now I am not Catholic nor was I raised with any Lenten tradition. I have learned a little about Lent from friends as an adult. I understand that it lasts 40 days to represent the 40 days Jesus was tempted. I also understand that during Lent the idea is to make some sort of sacrifice as Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice.
I like the idea of Lent and for the last couple of years have participated it in my own way. This year I will be participating by giving up fried foods. This includes fried chicken, french fries, fried burgers, general tso chicken, egg rolls, donuts, fried fish, potato chips, fried plantains, fried rice and anything else fried. I will make an exception for stir fry as that usually does not include as much oil and has lots of veggies.
This will be a challenge for me. However, I know my arteries will thank me.
Do you participate in Lent? If so, what sacrifice are you making? Do you have any suggestions for healthier options for some of the most popular fried foods?
Several years ago all the women at my company gave up sugar for lent (there were only 8 of us). It was one of the best weight loss tactics I've ever had. It is hard to eat that brownie in the lunch room when everyone knows you've given up sugar. We would also have check-ins on Monday morning on how we did over the weekend. I guess this is why weight-watchers works.
BTW – I'm giving up sugar for lent and staying away from my work's popcorn machine.
Good luck.