Guilt Free and other damaging phrases

I might have written about this before but I'm not going to take the time to go back thru all the posts to find out. If it sounds familiar, forgive me and move on.
In the last week I've read a few blog posts about "guilt free" desserts and "guilt free" BBQ options for July 4th. Really? I should be guilty if I eat something that tastes good on a holiday?
Sure. I understand. A 500 calorie slice of cheesecake is probably not a good idea if I'm eating it nightly while lounging on the couch, remote in hand, after a dinner of ribs, fries and soda. But it's the 4th of July, folks. A day to celebrate. Not a day to worry about guilt.
A burger. Maybe some potato salad made with real mayonnaise. Pie topped with ice cream for dessert. Just on Monday. For the holiday. And not a turkey or veggie burger on a whole wheat bun accompanied by potato salad made with fat free yogurt and a plate of fresh berries (delicious though they might be) topped with fat free yogurt mixed with vanilla and Splenda.
You can have that food on Tuesday, July 5th.
Implying that eating something "fattening" should fill me with guilt is a pretty sick idea. Eating shouldn't make a person feel guilty--regardless of what or how much they've eaten or where or how they've eaten it.
Guilt is for murder, rape and other violence against people and animals. Remorse. But not for eating something that perhaps is forbidden on your "diet".
I know. Articles like that grab your attention. You're thinking--I can have my cake and eat it, too. Yes, you can. You can have your "real" cake. Not your ersatz cake. Just this one time. Go for it. Enjoy it. Savor it. Because on Monday you're going to have to go back to deprivation.
End of rant.

Secrets that aren't secrets

From my facebook page today: Articles on the "secret" to maintaining weight loss and the 5 (or 10 or 20) diet foods that are sure to help you lose weight.
Secret? Really? Is it a secret that you should eat less than you did when you were fat if you want to maintain weight loss? Is there really some secret that no one knows about that will ensure no weight gain? These are just the buzz words that catch your eye and get you excited. Then you read the article and discover that the secret tips are just to eat less and exercise more. Or maybe don't buy trigger foods. Or stock your fridge with healthy (whatever that means) snacks. Or the best, eat lots of vegetables. Ooooh. The secret is revealed.
As for the top whatever number of diet foods to help you lose weight--let me guess: Vegetables (volume) are one (or all). Lean protein, of course. Stay hydrated. Puleeze. Heard it all before.
If you don't have something new to say, then please don't rehash and regurgitate. There is no secret. We fatties know what has to be done. There are no magic diet foods. So, stop. Just stop promising me something that you cannot deliver.

Happy Birthday to ME

It's Flag Day and my birthday. When I was a kid, my parents told me that the flags people put out were in honor of my birthday so I've always thought I was something special! Thank you, Americans, for honoring my birthday.
In the past, this has been a special day for me. This year, I'm feeling a little uncomfortable. My mother died during this same year of her life. It's not that I think I'm going to die this year (not) but it's sad to me that she missed out on so much because I feel great so I can't imagine that at this age she was so sick that she died. Sad.
Back to me.
I'm still fat. You know, each year I think that on my next birthday I'll be "smaller" but of course it never happens. So I'm going to stop thinking and wishing for it. I just want to be alive on my next birthday!
So far today (and it's only 9:30 am), I've eaten two cupcakes. I baked them last night at 10 pm to take to aerobics class this afternoon to celebrate my birthday. They still need to be frosted but they were tasty without any frosting and quite sweet enough.
There will be more eating today. I mean, I eat on non birthdays so of course I'm going to eat on my birthday. Indian food. To start. Possibly fried food to end the day. Not sure. Right now, cupcakes have filled my tummy and I'm not thinking of anything that I particularly want.
So cheers to me for my birthday. For another year. As my life ahead of me gets shorter, I definitely do appreciate each day a little bit more.