The reading matter of Bandit Girl

I was curled up reading my newly purchased book on "Running for Women" tonight when it suddenly occurred to me.

I love books (okay ... that part didn't just occur to me!). I surround myself with them. Library books. Purchased books. Borrowed books. Free books. Thick books. Thin books. Reference books. Fictional books. Love 'em. Every one of them.

Prior to my band I owned a swag of weight loss books. And I mean a swag. Everything from the psychology of eating self help books, diet specific books, books on super foods, calorie counting books, intuitive eating books. On and on the list went. My library of such material grew to mammoth and rather ridiculous proportions (in hindsight, of course!).

However, over the past 9 months since surgery and with the slow but steady success of the band, I have pared down my collection of these books. And I am left with but one. Good ole' Gillian McKeith's "You Are What You Eat". And now? Well, let's just say there is a definite sea change! I have oodles of books on fitness & health (not dieting) - yoga books, a book on anatomy for strength and fitness training, weight training books, books on running, beauty books (make up application and hair styling) and photography books. Gone are the Weight Watchers and Slimmers magazines; replaced with Practical Photography, Bravissimo catalogues (lingerie) and fashion magazines like Red & Grazia (I don't buy these often but when I plan for a lazy weekend they are the bomb!).

And as for the matter that covers my fridge. Previously, it would be on the calorie values of some of my favourite foods and 'diet' sayings to try and prevent me from eating (as if that was going to stop me! Ha!). Now I have magnets that have inspirational sayings (basically affirmations acknowledging how far I have come); a flyer from the local organic food store; a yoga time table and snippets on travel locations/hotels and an article on the newly opened Sex Academy.

I guess some would shrug and say, "Big deal, Bandit Girl". But to me it is a big deal. It's a monumental change. I have, without even being completely aware, moved from being focussed on food, calorie counting and weight loss to being far more interested in health, fitness, my hobby and learning to look like a gorgeous goddess. I really love this change. I love feeling like a normal, healthy human being. Not an obsessed, hung up, waiting-for-my-life-to-begin-when-I-lose-40kg human being. Sweeeeet!