Calories don't count on your birthday, right?
Or your family members' birthdays?
I want to reach my goals, and I keep reminding myself that if and when I "cheat" on my diet, I am harming no one but myself. I am cheating myself out of progress. I want to be able to look back and say, "I did this without regrets."
But honestly, real life takes precedence over my desire to look cute in a swimsuit. Family celebrations and the food that accompanies these celebrations will not make a permanent dent in my health or my physique. Not that every day isn't worth celebrating...or that a person should make up "holidays" or crises to justify eating decadently.
Holidays and birthdays remind us all the more how much our culture, history and our very identity is wrapped up in food. Food can be a part, but in working on achieving a more healthy lifestyle, I want to shift the focus off of food (for my birthday way off in six months) and on to people and experiences. Food is a part, but it's not the whole.
By the way, I am having dessert at my brother's birthday party tonight. And probably at my mom's birthday party on Friday, too. That is all.
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6 comments:
I pigged out. Bummer. However, I will use this as a learning experience to plan better for future events like this. I refuse to beat myself up! I refuse to feel guilt! I refuse to stop what I started and have been doing for the last 2 or so weeks! I will not give up!
I will print out some of your encouraging comments to read when I'm offline. I will start again tomorrow. I will be cheerful and forgiving of myself. I will make better choices next time.
I read a good statement a long time ago: "Courage doesn't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, 'I will try again tomorrow.'"
Kristin and Jeanne, this is real life. If we are doing this as a lifestyle change, then we have to understand that there will be days when we will not eat on plan. Who could expect you to go to a birthday or celebration and not have desert? That would be silly! Food is a part of our culture and our celebrations, and that is okay. The important thing is that after the celebration you go back to eating healthy and making good choices. When I know I am going to a party or an event where there will be good food, I make good choices before hand so I don't feel guilty about having a slice of cake or a few apitizers.
I do agree with you Kristen, my birthday is comming up in July (hello BBQ!) and I don't want the celebration to be all about food, but I will have cake. What I won't do is save any cake for the next day or the next.
We can't look at these times as failures. We have to look at them as part of life unless we intend to stop attending parties and celebrations or we brain wash everyone to serve only salad and vegetable platters. I don't think either of those is a realistic option.
You are right Jeanne, neither of you should beat yourself up. One day will not undo all that has been done. Today you will both be back on track making healthy choices and feeling good!
I'm not beating myself up at all! Ha! I ate clam chowder AND mud pie and it was all awesome. I don't feel guilty one bit. It's a freakin' birthday. It comes once a year. A girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do.
We do need to keep balance in our lives, we don't want to, or, I don't want to act like a freak over food, one way or the other. Balance, moderation is the key. I would think if we became to obessive over a diet plan, afraid to take a bite of cake or chocolate, that it could lead to some really messed up eating disorder that could be way more harmful than being a few pounds overweight. Isn't that the problem with anorexia? I don't know that much about it but doesn't it become a phobia of eating because they are so afraid of gaining?
I have certain goals that I have set that are important to reach for the sake of my health and my family and I am determined to get there. I know that even after I reach those goals these choices are going to have to pretty much be for the rest of my life but I will find ways to bring balance without jepordizing my health again. Like Sandy said, enjoying the celebration but not letting the overeating become habit again.
Jeanne or Kristen
Is Darren back from Mississippi? How did that go?
Hey again,
Yes Darren is home from MS. This morning he confirmed that he plans to move there. Sometime in the next 4-6 weeks I think. For me, the mommyheart still struggles & cries, but in my spirit I have peace. God has told me that Jackson is in the plans. What He hasn't told me is if it's "forever" or not. I doubt He will. I'll just have to save my pennies so I can go see my boy whenever it's possible.
It feesl kinda like when Kristen went off to Texas...it 'killed' me but I survived. That gives me hope that this is the same. I'll need prayer and support tho, and I'm thankful for you all.
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