epiphany

I had an epiphany today. I went to lunch with my friend Liz. She wanted to go to Baja Fresh and I'm always down for some of that yum yum gimme some, so of COURSE I was happy to join her! I debated their various menu choices and decided that mahi tacos were just the thing! They come on soft corn tortillas with cabbage, pico de gallo, avocado and "a zesty avocado sauce." The guy asked me if I wanted the combo with rice and beans and I stopped. No. I didn't. Weird! I knew that the two tacos would be sufficient and would be just the right amount without going overboard. What the hell?! Who AM I!?
I came home and discovered that I made the right decision. By foregoing the rice and beans (of which I would have gotten black beans instead of pinto), I saved myself 460 calories, 77 carbs and 1600 MG's OF SODIUM. Who knew that such an innocent "accompaniment" could be so devastating? (and in case you're curious, the two tacos are 460 calories, 18 grams of fat, 52 carbs and 600 mg's of sodium if you make no modifications, which I didn't.)
I also made another discovery. I don't like soda anymore. It's so bubbly and chemical-y that it just tastes weird. Coke Zero used to be an addiction. Seriously. I LOVED it. If I could have gotten it naked and made love to it, I would have. So, I decided to treat myself and have one. It was kinda gross and after I was done, I could feel the bloat in my belly from the sodium. I still wanted a drink for the car (since it's 115 out today) so I got some unsweetened iced tea instead and added a couple of Equal to it (they don't have Splenda.) It came from one of those tea containers where you can choose what kind of tea you want (raspberry, sweetened black, non sweetened black or sweetened green) and since it wasn't regular brewed tea, it tasted weird. I guess I've gotten so used to water and brewed tea and brewed coffee that I just don't really like anything else.
All this info is a little crazy for me, but it gives me hope. It gives me hope that this time it'll stick, that this time it's really a lifestyle change and that by this time next year, I'll be a whole new me.


and p.s. If you get the Mango Chicken Chipotle Salad, get it without the shell. You'll save 540 calories and 45 grams of fat...)