Sacrifice

sac.ri.fice
noun


.An act of giving up something valued for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy.


I talked to Tiffany at the gym the other morning and she eagerly came up to me beaming to tell me the news....She was 22 days sugar free! She was so excited and so elated with how good she felt and what she has accomplished. She inspired me to get back on the bandwagon with no sugar and to step it up. 


I had to go through a little mourning again in preparation for giving up sugar. I don't eat much but I like the treats now and then. It seems like a little more now than then lately so it is time. It is a HUGE sacrifice to give up sugar. HUGE.  It tastes good. It makes you feel good, for the moment. But, it makes me feel sick. I get a headache. I get sleepy almost instantly and it is just plain horrible for you. I need to make a sacrifice. I need to "give up something of value for the sake of something else regarded as more important or worthy."


Ugh. 


But folks, it is the big one next month. I am officially going to be old. 40 old. I can't really handle the thought of it but one thing is certain, I have to go there and my body isn't feeling any younger. I don't want to succumb to old age. I want to be the best 40 ever and that means I can't abuse it like a 20 year old. It just won't take that garbage.


So, here I am, contemplating what needs to be done to be a better me so that my 40 year old self won't self destruct. 


I need to make some sacrifices now so that the next half of my life, or at least the coming decade, will be a little smoother and less painful.


I want to feel good. I want to look good. I want to be sexy for my husband. I want to feel sexy for myself. I want to be able to wake without aches and pains. I want my joints to move the right way and my muscles to keep their shape.


40 year olds take a little more discipline for this magic to happen.  Darn it.


I didn't eat my daughters famous cookies last night. It's not that I am opposed to having a cookie now and then, but I can't just have one of her cookies. Therefore, I can't eat one. I ate a handful of blueberries and they were delicious. 


We gave up dairy and I appreciate the taste of food even more so. When you go without cheese on things, you realize how much cheese covers up the taste of real food. I don't miss it much now.


I am hoping that I will feel the same about sugar. I want to still have a treat maybe on one weekend night or at a party but I need to be sugar free for now to cleanse the system and get rid of that craving. It needs to be a lifestyle. It feels good.


Thanks, Tiffany. You have motivated me again to be better. 


Here's to 40. You may be knocking on my door but I will not let you in gracefully. There is going to be a fight on your hands. I warn you, I have been working out. I may not be my best 40 yet but I am getting there. I am going to sacrifice now so I can have the thing of higher value later. I see way too many who didn't want to sacrifice and now they are suffering the consequence. Bad habits will ALWAYS catch up. ALWAYS.


Time to step it up. Ready. Set. Go.