Dieting can be good for your Writing

I started dieting at the end of May.

I suffer from migraines and a side effect of the medication I take is an increased risk of early onset diabetes. My Doctor’s told me a few times to lose weight and I finally accepted that it was time to do it.

Before starting, I took a photograph of myself so I could compare it with what I looked like when I finished.

Image via Wikipedia

The doughnuts had to go. So did the fatty diet. Looking back I was really yellow so maybe I had other problems that needed looking at, but that’s for another time.

I’ve tried counting calories and done the Atkins diet a few times but after early weight loss I always put it back on. This time I was determined to lose weight and keep it off. The prospect, however small, of diabetes was a good carrot to dangle.

I saw an advert on television for the new Pro Points plan from Weight Watchers. I downloaded the iPhone App, signed up and was off. Any diet that lets you eat a Curly Wurly a day (only 3 points!) has to get my vote. I’ve changed my dietary habits for the better. I eat a lot less fat and eat a lot more fruit and vegetables so that’s got be a good thing. I even manage to exercise!

Twenty-four weeks later and I have lost the 2 and a half stone (35 pounds) I set out to lose. In total, I’ve lost over 15% of my starting weight.

Woo Hoo!

I now look like this.

Image by Ŕooners via Flickr

Ok, my hair hasn’t miraculously grown back, but I came to terms with that a long time ago.

How has this helped my writing?

I set a goal and achieved it.

I will focus on the positive. I can set other goals and achieve them too. I WILL finish writing my book. The editing is making slow, but steady progress. I WILL keep writing and trying to get published. I WILL spend more time reading.

This is just the start. Dieting has been good for my life and my writing.

Thanks for reading.

p.s. I would like to thank Homer Simpson and Shaggy for participating in this blog entry.