What are your burning in your furnace?

Stephanie Smiles is my inspiration for today's post. She commented on burning wood for her heat source. I also have had wood heat for many years. It keeps you warm and there is nothing like it. Anyway, how does this relate to our journey? When you burn wood you need to plan ahead. You need to gather the firewood and store it out of the weather. You need kindling and some sort of fire starter. It also is important that you make a wise choice of the type of wood you have gathered to achieve the results you want. If you primarily gather soft woods you will have a hot fire, but it won't last too long. If you use a more dense wood the fire may not burn as hot but it will keep going longer. Sometimes we also burn wood because it has a pleasant distinctive smell such as incense cedar. It just smells good while creating a hot short lasting fire. In our weight loss journey we have to plan our meals and snacks so that we are prepared when it comes time to feed our bodies. We need to think about what we want out of the food choices we make. If we are just looking for a quick snack and choose an item high in carbohydrates we need to realize that it may make us feel good for a little while, but it isn't going to stick with us and keep us satisfied for very long. A better choice is a more dense protein. It makes us feel fuller and it feeds are bodies for a longer period of time. We also have to be careful for those foods that smell so enticing especially this time of the year. We must evaluate if this is a special treat we are allowing ourselves or are we falling into a habit of bad eating that we really don't want? Each of us has to decide if we just want to have a lot of little hot fires ore are we going to make the right choice and feed our bodies properly for the long haul? Life is great, Rick

What a great analogy, Rick! I do love my wood heat, but you're right in that it takes planning. We usually buy our wood in the summer and my manly husband splits and stacks it. I know that once that project is complete, I feel so good about the fact that we will be warm when winter arrives. Similarly, planning is key to my success with food. I definitely get into trouble when I don't plan. I write out our dinner menus before I grocery shop each week. This helps me make sure our meals are balanced between protein, veggies and the occasional starch. I also plan breakfasts and lunches for the work week. If I don't, it can and does get ugly! This time of year is difficult for sure. I made cookies with my nieces this weekend and I can't wait to give them away as gifts so they will not tempt me anymore. I had about three too many pieces of biscotti! Stay warm! Hugs, Stephanie

Stephanie, I am lucky, I have a wife. I highly recommend everyone (including you woman) get a wife. She does all of the meal planning and preperation. I kind of like the laundry fairy also. Have a great day, Rick

Rick, I've been saying for years that I need a wife! In our office we joke about hiring one and splitting her up. We would each get her for a day. I can't complain too much. My husband always does the grocery shopping with me and often he does it by himself. He does laundry too! But he's taken. It's great that you appreciate the wife that plans those meals, cooks them and discusses tasks with the laundry fairy! Enjoy the day, Stephanie

Ric, What a great analogy! I appreciate you taking the time to write all of this out to share with us. Planning is a huge key for any one trying to lose weight and maintain their goal. Working out tool to the best advantage for us requires planning. Some days I am better at it than others. But I do like planning - I feel I get much more accomplished when I plan ahead for anything. Have a great day! Robin

Robin, I agree with out about planning. I usually am a great list maker and crossing things off the list gives me a great feeling of acomplishment. Have a great day, Rick