October 29, 2012 - Say NO Ahead of Time!

Hello and good Monday, The arctic blast has certainly shouted loudly that it is tired of being bottled up. It hasn't been this cool in almost a year. All that cold air, which is so dense and heavy, must be clapping with joy as it got to move and spread out. OOPS - science teacher stuff. :) Anyway, what a busy week this is for me with our Fall Family Festival AND one of my best friend's son's wedding. Lots of opportunities for eating wrong foods this week. SOOOOO - I am up and making plans. I really feel that victory resides in the planning. Most feel victory resides in the ability to be disciplined - but being disciplined to BRING the correct foods to an event and not be dependent on your host to provide them IS DISCIPLINE. Halloween was my "open the gate" starting point to the holiday season. I started eating candy as soon as I started buying it for parties, as well as making the excuses that January was only 8 weeks away. Even as I type that I a shaking my head........STUPID! No wonder I was so sick. As I look forward to this week, which kicks off with a bridal party at my house tonight, I have planned a menu that works for me including a sugar free/starch free pumpkin pound cake with pumpkin spiced whipped cream and "sugared" pecan pieces. YUM! I bought extra apples and natural peanut butter and will be packing my lunch Wednesday for the festival including some brownies that are legal. I REFUSE to watch all those folks "yumming" on the candy (MY DELIGHT) and feel bitterness in my heart. I CHOSE this journey, I am healthy because of this journey and I am HAPPY because of this journey! However, I have planned ahead of time to say, "No thank you." There will be many people who offer me unhealthy choices this week, but none of them control my destiny. I am strong enough to smile and say, "no thank you" without justifying, defending or explaining. I want to encourage you that these next eight weeks don't have to be times of denial OR failure. Say "NO" ahead of time - practice if you will - with NO explanation - and bring your own foods that bring a smile to your body. Let's start January healthy and running and with NO regrets. :) I know this is a tough week for those addicted to chocolates - say "NO" early and don't deal with the frustration of feeling you failed on Thursday. We can eat sweets - we just have to make them. wink PK