Packing Up Boxes and My Diet

"Two weeks from today, I'll be having Chick-Fil-A," my husband said.

And so it begins. "It" being the moving process, which ultimately includes many of the following statements: "Oh! We won't be back here, so we have to go there for dinner." "We never got a chance to have that one restaurant's specialty." "We won't have one of those in our new state." I fear that my weight will also move, and not in the right direction, due to this new moving predicament on the horizon.

While America's favorite pastime may be baseball (although I disagree -- I think it's football), mine appears to be moving. For the fourth time in three years, I will be packing up my belongings and starting life in a new location. Unfortunately, I don't mean a move as in down the street; I mean move as in move to another state!

Last August, my husband and I moved to Michigan, and now we are venturing back to Virginia. While this is all exciting, it is also very stressful. We are worried about the actual logistics of the move, finances, long-term housing, my husband's finding a job and, of course, how it will impact the healthy lifestyle we are working to achieve.

During this period of transition, there have been times when my stomach is in knots and food is the last thing I can think about. Although it's not healthy, on some of those days, it is time for dinner by the time I can handle eating. Other days, all I want to do is feed the anxiety with sweet, salty, crunchy or savory foods. I don't discriminate; I am an equal-opportunity emotional eater.

Emotional eating has always been a problem for me. I don't know why food is so comforting, but sometimes, it is the best medicine for my emotional ailments. Have a bad day? Here, eat this pizza. Feeling stressed? Don't worry: Ice cream will help. Ending one job, moving and starting a new job within two weeks? That sounds like a job for your old friend, Mr. Mexican Fiesta.

Aside from trying to keep my impulsive and emotional eating under control, another point of concern is trying to figure out what this move will mean for my activity level. For a few months, we will be living in a home that is far from town and has no sidewalks or trails.

I think I will start an "Ashley needs a treadmill fund" and try to save up the money to buy a high-quality machine so that I can continue my walking and running. Thankfully, I have my stationary bike and online workout videos to help me stay active.

I am fortunate to have so many colleagues, friends and family members either sad to see us leave Michigan or excited about our return to Virginia. To celebrate, we have had many going-away parties and have many welcome-home festivities to look forward to. The common denominator in all of these activities? Food and drinks, including cheesecake, wine, potlucks and mojitos.

How do you make healthy choices when you are surrounded by temptations during a hectic and life-changing time period? If you are me, you don't. You have your cake and eat it, too. I realize that in a few weeks, life will be settled and back to a new normal. I will resume cooking healthy meals and tracking my food. I will not have to squeeze in exercise between packing and cleaning.

I also realize that there are places and people I won't see for a long time or haven't seen in a long time, and I will allow myself to indulge in some foods that are not necessarily the best choices in my everyday eating habits. Besides, you only move every now and then, right?

After decades of dieting only to gain it back, two That's Fit readers have decided to finally rethink their relationship with food and exercise over the next year to move towards a lifetime of fulfilling, healthy living. Come by every week as Ashley and Lee share their successes, and challenges, as they tip the scale.

Find out what Lee does when he gets off track with his healthy habits.