Annie's Corner
Which is Right?
By Anne O. Stout 

Don't know about the rest of you but all the diets out there today are sure confusing to me. 

 First of all, makes no sense to me to totally cut out one thing or another, unless you are compensating for whatever you are losing. What happened to the concept being taught when I was growing up that we should eat from all the food groups, you remember the original food pyramid?  Being raised on those foods has kept me strong and healthy, course now at 40-something, I have some excess pounds to get rid of so I am trying cutting down on everything but no cut outs. 

 I have friends who have had problems due to cutting out the carbs, and a few vegetarian friends who are not too healthy either. Course in both cases aren't they supposed to eat other items to fill in for what they are missing? Is it the lack of protein that keeps my vegetarian friends looking so pale?  Cutting out meats means eating enough vegetables to give you what the meat did, right?  So many questions, and the books, papers and etc. don't exactly agree on what is good for us. 

 Okay so I am cutting down, eating less and yet the weight is not disappearing too fast. I am walking and trying to exercise as part of my daily routine, yet I go for a check up with my doctor and my cholesterol is up. He tells me, "my bad cholesterol could be better and the good has improved but not enough."  Say what?  I opt to keep trying and stay on the milder medicine though he's ready to make it stronger. Talking about weight he says, "Change my life style."  

 Life style, does he think it is like when I was young and I am going out and partying, or does he picture me sitting around in my lounger eating bon-bons. Neither is the truth, I am a wife and mother who works two jobs, I think I am very active so what does the doctor want anyway? 

 I eat fresh fruits and vegetables every day, and of course as a farmer's daughter, I consume my dairy from milk to cheese to yogurt. Avoid desserts most of the time, except the occasional birthday cake, or wedding cake. (It's rude not to celebrate.) I still eat my meat but in moderation and only have eggs on the weekends once in awhile. Sounds good to me, yet the older I get the harder it is getting to get the pounds off, and where did they come from anyway; I am not a fan of the fast food restaurants. Anyway I really want to know what happened to whatever was taking care of my cholesterol before, as we age does it quit, or is it just out to lunch?

 Well one thing I have learned, give yourself a break and eat some of what you are depriving yourself of or you may find yourself having cravings and not even be pregnant. Also anyone planning on any diet should talk to their doctor first and find out what is right for you, don't learn about problem after you start dieting. Find a dieting buddy as that helps as well, be each other's support in the pound struggle.

 Happy dieting!!!!