I’m about to plunk down a few bucks to take a course which will transform me into a certified personal trainer. No kidding. Thus, I figured now is as good a time as any to start reviewing my eating habits.

One bad habit I’ve had since high school (and I’m not saying how long that’s been) is that I use Sweet-N-Low in my coffee in the morning. I never considered it a problem. And it probably isn’t, but I thought I’d give a healthier alternative a try. So I bought some Stevia packets at Trader Joe’s. It’s a bit like sugar, flavor-wise. Not bad. I don’t love it, but I can get used to it. I think if you use sugar, it’s probably easy to make the switch to Stevia, because the taste is really that similar.

One minor change, but it’s a step in a healthier direction. Anyone can start with something that simple and be successful. Then success breeds success. That’s the theory, anyway.

Another diet thing I did was to try egg protein powder. Now, I don’t know if it’s the brand or that flavor (chocolate) or just egg protein powders in general, but … yuck! I’m glad I spent only $11.00 on it. But I’m frugal to a fault sometimes, so I’m going to keep trying to stomach the stuff. This morning I tried mixing it with vanilla yogurt. Not a good idea. I managed to choke it down, but it was unpleasant.

This afternoon I tried a different tack. I mixed half a scoop of the egg protein powder with a half a scoop of Designer Whey (chocolate), some water, a couple of splashes of half and half, and some natural peanut butter (Trader Joe’s brand is yummy and cheap!). Then, for good measure, I tossed in another little bit of the Designer Whey. I put all of this in the blender. The result? Not very thick, but extremely palatable. Peanut butter can cover up almost any bad taste.

I really like the idea of egg protein. It’s a good protein. Since I’m tiny, I need to make sure whatever calories I take in have the nutrients I need. When I’m lifting heavy, I need to get some amount of protein from “easy” sources, instead of whole foods or I end up overeating. Having learned my lesson, however, I plan on doing some research before I try a different brand or flavor of egg protein. In the meantime, I’ve found a new post-workout shake.

The point is that you don’t have to make sweeping changes all at once to start on the road to better health. In fact, you’re much more likely to stay healthy and continue your good habits if you add them into your life gradually. Because we are talking about changing your life — not just limiting your calories and jumping around like a nutcase for a few weeks.

Eventually I’ll post about some of the supplements I’ve added to my diet. Vitamins, minerals, herbs — stuff like that.

Mary