I love coffee and can drink it in 100-degree heat. Each morning, during my Bible study and prayer time, it’s God, black coffee and me.
But it was my love of coffee that led me astray. The close proximity of a new coffee shop to where I taught exercise classes made it an ideal place to stop at noon. I reasoned that because I had worked so hard I deserved a 16-ounce cup of coffee. Not just any coffee, a caramel latte with whipped cream drizzled in caramel. This baby weighed in at 750 calories but that was my lunch so it was OK. And it was better than the diet colas and sweet cereal I used to eat after class.
It didn’t take long for my new habit to start taking its toll. Terrible headaches…profuse sweating about 30 minutes after downing the latte…and snug clothes.
I replaced my carmel latte with a non-fat latte and reduced fat wild blueberry muffin, and bumped up my exercise. But I didn’t lose anything; in fact, I gained a few more pounds.
I decided to keep a food journal to track my food intake and determine if my calories consumed were less than my calories expended.
Even with my healthier choices, the food journal was a real eye opener. My non-fat latte had 220 calories, and the reduced fat wild blueberry muffin still had 360 calories.
My lunch is now a piece of fruit, usually an apple, a ¼ cup of almonds and a few slices of reduced sodium chicken on whole-wheat flat bread.
My coffee is now black with no lattes at all.
The change had almost immediate results with a definite increase in energy. I learned first-hand that exercising certainly helps us to lose weight but if we do not complement exercise with healthy dietary habits weight loss is almost impossible.
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Theresa is a former model and nationally certified fitness professional who teaches people to use their faith to inspire fitness and their fitness to strengthen their faith. She is the author of Shaped by Faith: 10 Secrets to Strengthening your Body & Soul, and two exercise DVDS: Pilates for the Soul
She and her husband, Robin, have seven children and live in Calhoun, Kentucky.
You can email her with any questions or concerns.
