Member-only story
The Surprising Way I Enjoyed Food More While Losing Weight
I was born a food-lover. Meals were the highlight of my day. My Italian father cared deeply about eating well, and my mother diligently prepared home-cooked meals worth savoring. As I grew older I developed a discerning palate. I relished the opportunity to dine out and discover new flavors.
My passion for delicious ingredients and fine dining was insatiable. After college, I abandoned a graduate program to pursue my dream of attending culinary school. To eat well, I needed to refine my culinary prowess. This evolved into a career as a private chef. My job supported a lifestyle of daily cooking and eating well.
I thought that was the key to happiness.
But when I turned 40 I no longer felt satisfied. I remember sitting on my couch one evening, well into my second glass of Cabernet, thinking “is this what mid-life is supposed to feel like?”
I was overweight, sluggish, and did not like the way I looked or felt.
I tried diets in the past and lost some pounds by restricting my food and exercising every day. But I always felt deprived. I was desperate to go back to enjoying the food I loved. Sometimes I even dieted just so I could go back to overindulging.