Happy Saturday Morning!
It is 5 a.m. and I’m enjoying a cup of coffee and spending some quiet
time for a short while this morning before getting ready to make the trip to my
cousin’s wedding downstate. The wedding reception is being held in a tent at a
resort on Lake Michigan in South Haven. Unfortunately, the weather is calling
for rain and strong winds all day with temperatures in the 40’s, so it doesn’t
sound like that aspect of the day will be too pleasant. Hopefully, though, the
forecast will be wrong; if not, then I will have to adapt to it and ‘deal with
it.” After all, the weather is one of
those things over which I have no control. Worrying about it, fretting about
it, or in any other way allowing it to ruin the celebration planned for today
is really just a waste of energy.
Planning for it, on the other hand, is going to be necessary so I’m likely
to adjust my wardrobe choice a couple of times before I actually leave the
house in a couple of hours!
Planning to keep on track for this weekend celebration is a
priority for me. Like the weather, I cannot control what will be served at the
reception. I can, however, control my own eating habits, both there and while
in the hotel, and any meals I’ll eat on the road. Planning ahead is critical for my journey. I
have already packed a large bag of “keep-on-track” options. I have a plastic Ziploc with portioned out
oatmeal ready to go in the microwave for breakfast tomorrow morning. I have a package of kettle corn rice cake
snacks in case I get the late-night munchies.
I have my sugar-free vanilla creamer and a small container of sugar-free,
vinaigrette salad dressing to tuck into my purse in case salad is served
tonight. My bag also contains assorted pieces of fruit, a couple of
protein/fiber bars….just in case….and oh yes….a small personal size
watermelon! Watermelon season is just
about over so I want to enjoy every opportunity I can to enjoy my favorite
treat. I’d rather go back to my room and eat watermelon than eat a piece of
wedding cake! Knowing that I have that option will make it much easier to make
good choices at the reception.
Could I, at this point, simply say, “You’ve come so far,
Theresa….you’ve kept the weight off for over a year now….certainly you can take
a weekend off plan to celebrate a wedding, right?” YES…ABSOLUTELY…. I could; BUT, why would
I? Why would I want to take the risk of
going completely out of control for a couple of days…and then struggle to try
to find my way back next week when I know that I’m going to be traveling again
next week? Why would I want to take that
chance….when I have managed to go 3 ½ years without a slip? I am addicted to food. I am an emotional eater. I probably could/would control myself….but
why risk it? To me, it would be like a
recovering alcoholic saying, “I’ve been sober for 3 years now, so I’m sure I could
go to a wedding and just drink for one night. No harm in that, right?” Or a smoker saying “I haven’t had a cigarette
in over a year; I’m just going to smoke one-a-day from now on.” Could he/she do it? I don’t know…but why even put oneself in that
situation? I’ve never struggled with
drugs/alcohol/nicotine so I really don’t know about that, but I do know that if
I ate a French fry or stopped to McDonald’s on the way to the wedding, it would
be much easier to do it again on the way home. It’s a slippery slope, one that I
can choose NOT to go near. If I were stranded somewhere for several days
without food and had no other choice but to eat what was available or starve,
that would be a different story; but I’m not…and I have other options…BECAUSE I’M
PLANNING AHEAD….so there is no need (at least in MY thinking) to go off track.
.
I realize that moderation is the key for many. I know and believe that FOOD IS NOT THE ENEMY;
it is merely that fuel our body needs to function. I know that most people don’t share my
mind-set and/or have the stubborn-bullheaded-determination that I have somehow
managed to develop, and that is perfectly okay by me. I am NOT, under any
circumstances, suggesting that those of you that are on a weight loss journey must
think like I do. I have never said that my way is right or the only path to
success. Each person must develop his/her own thoughts and find his/her own
path to success. I am merely sharing how I’ve managed to lose and keep the
weight off thus far; how I’m planning to
stay on track this weekend…and beyond; and how I prepare for those special
occasions and holidays that are always going to be a part of our lives. Your
journey is just that… YOUR journey…and in order for it to be life-long, it must
one in which you can stay on….for life. Whether you eat wedding cake or not is
up to you to decide; not me.
Remember, no matter what circumstances we encounter, we
ALWAYS have a choice….not about whether it rains on a wedding day; not whether
we encounter a traffic a jam on the highway; not about what will be served at a
party….BUT….how we REACT to those things over which we have no control. I have
the mind-set that, “YES, I certainly CAN eat whatever I want….I just CHOOSE not
to!” That way, I’ll feel in control and
not deprived, because you know what, the taste of wedding cake, even if it is
decadent, will last only for a short while. The results of being in control and
making good choices will be evident forever.
Choose wisely today and have a beautiful weekend.
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