Sabotage

Being on and staying on a weight loss plan (lifestyle change) can and often is, a difficult task.  It can be especially difficult when you are alone in your thinking and eating habits.

If you are the heavy person in your relationships... whether it be friendships, marital, familial... and if you are the one eating well and changing your eating habits, and the other people in your life aren't... it makes for a very special set of circumstances.

Allow me to explain, firsthand, what I am talking about.  I don't deviate from my good food eating... it has become a great habit for me now... and I don't think about what I am going to eat or not eat anymore... unless I am writing my blog or talking with others about weight loss when they inquire.  Generally, food isn't first and foremost on my mind any longer... it's a way to stay alive... something I need 3-4 times a day to stave off hunger and nourish myself... great... finally, I have a good relationship with food...

HOWEVER.... in the past 9 months... there have been times... when I have felt great resentment and anger when other people bring bad food into my home... "for the ones not dieting".  I know I won't eat the bad food... and I know that temptation is not a part of my life anymore... but still... it really irked me.

Why did it get me so riled up?  Well... first of all... my entire family has had a food makeover as a result of my lifestyle change, and my husband and kids have all benefitted from the change... lost weight, clear skin, better moods, less hunger, and just general overall health and much less illness...

I want my family to have healthy attitudes towards food, and to learn to make good choices at all times, throughout their lives.  I want sweets and junk food to be a VERY, VERY occasional food in their lives... like saved for Birthdays and Anniversaries... and even THEN... better choices can be made... ya know?

One member of my family, constantly, on a weekly basis, brings copious amounts of sweets and white flour baked goods in huge bags, and says... "This is for the boys and Bill, so they can have a good treat."  REALLY!
What's wrong with fruit, and granola, and fresh sorbet!!!

This person means well.  She really does.  Not everyone has come to see that "once in a while" doesn't mean once a week.  Eating bad food once per week is still to frequent.  Once every three months is more like it.  I believe there needs to be long stretches of good habits for the habits to become a lifestyle.  I tell her over, and over and over again, to please bring over fresh fruit or whole wheat bakeds goods, if she insists... and she just won't do it.  She see's nothing wrong with white flour and sugar, and as long as it's homemade... why cause a stink about it?  Well... because... it's my house, and I say what comes in and goes out...

So, yes, it hurt her feelings... for a bit... but my kids and my lives are too important to mess up with cancer causing, inflammation inducing foods...  She has since seen it my way... and has begun to bring things like gift certificates, and gum and other non food items when she visits... and it's quite nice now.  She is now taking home my whole grain goodies and is liking them, so who knows... maybe she'll start cooking a different way.

There are so many other ways that people can sabotage our efforts... like filling the break room with cakes, pies, chips, candies etc... instead of with fruit and nuts and veggies.  Doesn't it seem like, in the beginning, EVERYONE is eating a fruit pie, when you are eating your apple?

Even my own husband.  He's lost 50 lbs on this plan, and he ate bread.  And now that he is at goal weight, he indulges in sweets and things he shouldn't, and sometimes he brings them into the house.  I have to take him aside, and explain to him that we need to model good food habits for our 16, 14 and 10 yr old sons... and Snickers isn't the way to do it.  If he must have one... he'll need to do so on his own...for the time being... until the habits become a lifestyle...for everyone in the house.  It would be the same if I was a recovering alcoholic... the drink shouldn't be in the house until the non drinking behavior is well established...

Don't be afraid to be your own advocate and be the boss of what's in your own home as far as food goes.  WE aren't able to control what goes on outside our homes... but we certainly do within our homes...

Fill your homes up with great, vibrant foods, that are sweet, in season, and will cure what ails you.  Keep out the bad stuff... there are millions of people outside that door vying for your junk food dollar.  Shop the perimeter of your store, stay a loooong time in your produce depts and fill your cart up in there...

One meal at a time... one meal at a time... change your life and your waist... one meal at a  time...