Today is a big day in our household. Our daughter turns 13, which makes me the mother of three teenagers, one preschooler and one toddler. Yesterday I took the birthday girl and four of her friends duckpin bowling at Fountain Square, and then we headed over to Bub’s Burgers in Carmel. Instead of treating me like a stodgy old mom and chauffeur, the girls were sweet enough to allow me in on the giggling and silliness. For a while I felt very, very young.

That is until the food came. Everyone dug into their juicy burgers, salty fries and shakes topped with whipped cream and a cherry, while I thoroughly enjoyed my salad topped with blackened Mahi Mahi. I didn’t feel quite so young at that point, but I knew that by making a healthier food choice I would still feel energetic and optimistic an hour later.

Back in January, we went out to dinner with several friends. I ate pasta and chocolate cake. The next day I ate leftover pasta and chocolate cake. By that evening, I was lying on the bed feeling absolutely miserable and useless. I’ve known for years that I’m borderline diabetic, but I’ve never taken care of it. And it was really starting to show.

So, I decided I was done. Done eating things I’m not supposed to eat. Done being irresponsible with my health. Done being irritated with myself for not controlling what I put into my mouth. I mean, seriously, how hard can it be to tell your own hand to put down a cookie? And if I can’t obey myself, how can I expect my kids to obey me?

Since that time, I have not eaten any sweets or junk food. I’m not bickering with hubby over the last Girl Scout cookie. I’m not calculating birthday cake slices in order to make sure I’m next in line when the corner piece is cut. And even though the entire potato family misses me, French fries, kettle chips and hash browns are no longer on my menu.

The first week wasn’t that hard because my resolve was so strong. The second week was a little rough because I wasn’t fully feeling the benefits yet, and food that I’d never before considered purchasing was suddenly calling out my name. I’d never even noticed that Hostess made sweet rolls with thick, gooey icing.

By the end of the second week I was amazed at my energy level and clarity of thought. I wasn’t wandering around the kitchen like an afternoon zombie, cramming any old thing into my mouth. I was actually getting things done, zipping through the day at a pace I haven’t kept in years. Amazingly, at the end of the day, I still had energy for bedtime routines instead of telling the little ones, “Sorry, no story tonight. Mommy is just too tired.”

I had expected some physical changes, but I had never realized the mental ramifications of a poor diet.

The memory I thought I was losing due to old age, has suddenly returned. My brain is no longer in a fog and my slight mid-life crisis is over. I can concentrate, and that is saying a lot!

Now, I can tell you exactly what I’ve had for breakfast, lunch and dinner, instead of just giving you a long list of foods I’ve noshed on throughout the day. I do get hungry between meals, but apparently that’s what it feels like to be normal. I’ve learned to peruse restaurant menus for healthier options instead of always choosing French fries or mashed potatoes as my side dish.

I am right about the two month mark, so I feel comfortable talking about it now. It boils down to finally deciding to do what is right. It’s that simple. Just do right. Make right choices. Think right thoughts about food. If you think of food as your friend, that is not a right thought. A pan of brownies is not a suitable companion when you’re lonely. With hubby being gone for a month, there were a couple of nights I wanted nothing more than to have a big ol’ junk food fest. But I chose to do right and had no regrets in the morning.

Yesterday, I hit a weight loss of fifteen pounds. That’s pretty remarkable for just under two months, considering the only change I made was my decision to do right! I pulled out some of my smaller-sized jeans and shorts and was amazed at how well they fit. I must have packed them away without washing them first, because in each and every pocket I found wrappers — candy bar wrappers, snack cake wrappers, and even a fast food burrito wrapper. It was a very clear picture of the poor choices that led to these clothes being packed away in the first place.

Today, I am the mother of three teenagers, one preschooler and one toddler. Today, I have energy, a brighter outlook on life, and contentment in knowing that I really can be satisfied by choosing a Mahi Mahi salad over cheeseburgers and chocolate shakes.