Signs of spring are finally
beginning to appear all around me. The tulips are now in bloom; the birds are
building nests; the days are getting longer and warmer; and invitations are
beginning to arrive in my mailbox on a regular basis.
I used to think that the
period of time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s was the busiest in terms of
parties and celebrations, but spring and summer might be even busier. I
received three invites this week alone: One for a graduation party; another for
a retirement party; and the third for a baby shower. Facebook has been buzzing
with pictures of graduations, end of school year picnics and parties, and proms.
Wedding season will be here soon and many will be planning summer vacations and
camping trips. Memorial Day weekend starts today and some will be going out of
town, attending a parade or cook-out. So
many fun things to do….and yet, along with the celebrations comes a challenge:
Staying focused and on track while attending a party.
Sometimes we think that just because WE are making changes to improve
our health and well-being, that the entire world is joining us on our journey.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. One of the biggest challenges I faced when
I started my journey was the realization that just because I had made the choice NOT to eat cake,
desserts, and special treats, didn’t mean that everyone around me had made the
same choice. In fact, unless you are living in some treatment center or diet
camp, it’s likely that you are in the minority; perhaps even the ONLY one not
indulging or celebrating with food and drink. Just because I am addicted to
sugar and potato chips doesn’t mean that everyone else in my life suffers from
the same problem. Just because you can’t stop with one or two drinks doesn’t
mean that others in the party can’t. It is unrealistic to expect that there won’t
be snacks, treats, and good food at every gathering…just because I choose not
to indulge.
As a result, we are going to
find ourselves surrounded by temptation and the opportunity to stray from our
plan, especially when attending all of these parties and celebrations. So the question is: What are we going to do
about it? I can’t speak for you, but I have a few choices. I could avoid the
party or celebration altogether at the risk of offending the host or guest of
honor. This might create some hard feelings if I turn down an invitation, but
in the long run, I need to do what is best for me and avoid situations that
could sabotage my efforts to change. If I know that I am not strong enough to
resist the temptation, then I need to avoid the situation, and hope that those
around me will realize that it won’t always be this way and eventually I will
get strong enough to be around others who are eating and drinking.
OR…I could plan ahead to stay
on track by going to the party armed with options to help me get through it. This
is typically my choice. If I am invited to a party or a dinner out, I try to
find out what might be served so I can make a plan. I bring a small pill
container of a very low calorie vinaigrette salad dressing in my purse so that
I can eat the salad. I pack a few low calorie snacks, a protein bar, and fruit
so that I have things to eat that are on my plan, just in case there isn’t
anything at the party that is low calorie. My family will be cooking out this
weekend for the holiday and I prepared myself to keep on track by purchasing
turkey burger and fat-free hot dogs so that I have an option if they prepare
burgers and hot dogs on the grill at some point. I also have a watermelon and
other things on hand so that I have options available that don’t include
macaroni or potato salad.
If I’m asked to bring a dish
to pass or a dessert with me, I bring something that I can eat so I know there
is at least one item there that will allow me to keep on track. Sometimes I eat
a very light breakfast or lunch before I go to the party and save some calories
for some party food, or I eat a bigger, high-protein meal at home before the
party so that I’m not famished when I get there and just binge on everything
due to extreme hunger. I also keep myself busy talking with people and enjoying
the activities of the celebration so that I’m not just sitting there eating when
I’m not hungry, just because there is food around. How many times have you
eaten the entire cup/dish of candy/mints/peanuts/chips (whatever) that are
often put on the tables at a shower or party just because it was there in front
of you?
The worst choice I could make
is to just do what everyone else is doing; eat what everyone else is eating,
and pay the consequences later. I could use the party as an excuse…..and
convince myself that I’ll start back on track after the party, wedding, or
holiday is over. This has NOT been my choice yet and it is NOT an option for me
now either because there will ALWAYS be an excuse. How many times have you
decided in the fall that you were going to change your life and had a
conversation in your mind that went something like this: “Well, it doesn’t make sense to start before
Thanksgiving because it will be too hard to get through the holidays so I better
wait until New Years. Then it becomes.. I’ll start as soon as all the holiday
cookies and treats are gone so I don’t have to waste them. Then…well, I always
get chocolates for Valentine’s Day and it would be rude not to eat them…Then….well,
Easter is here”….etc….. and so forth and eventually years pass and you keep
putting it off.
We can come up with all kinds
of excuses. I encourage you today to STOP MAKING EXCUSES…..instead MAKE A
PLAN. If you want to change your life
bad enough then you will do it. Don’t let a party be an excuse to give up on
your dream. Make a decision that you
will make it work….you will make better choices….you will do what you need to
do to keep on track….and YOU WILL change your life.
The choice is ours alone. I
can’t tell you what to do. I can’t tell you that your choice is right or wrong.
I can’t judge you for your choices. My journey is my journey….and ultimately,
our choices are ours alone. I know what I’m going to do; I am going to stay on
track. I am going to stay focused. I am going to attend the parties and make it
work. Why? Because I know that the end
result is so worth it! I know that the
satisfaction of eating that cupcake pales in comparison to the joy of being
able to walk or ride my bike. I know that each time I resist temptation I grow
stronger in my commitment and it makes the next temptation easier. And mostly, I know that you all are counting
on me to be strong and keep my weight off. I don’t want to disappoint myself
and I don’t want to disappoint you either!
Make it a great day and Happy
Memorial Day weekend to my friends here in the States!
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