(From contributor Kris)
I heard that alot growing up. I also heard “you have been so good, you can afford to have that (insert any sugary treat)”. I am old enough to stop blaming my parents for my weight issue, but it’s a fact that we learn coping behaviors very early on and it’s hard to shake them when we are older.
Last year my husband went overseas with the military and I was determined to lose weight for his homecoming. I would do really well all week and then spend the weekend with my parents. I obviously didn’t lose any weight while he was gone, but I did manage not to gain. The exercising I was doing and the healthy eating mon-thurs was only balancing out my splurging from fri-sun. What a way to live-I was working way too hard just not to get any fatter!
I thought I was doing enough and I became very discouraged and gave up (again). I was waiting for that magical monday to come around when it would all fall into place-after all, my mother always told me there would be one.
It’s funny how the mind works. I am facing a weekend at my parent’s along with a banquet where I have no idea what is being served. I got nervous because I have been on the right track this week. I have picked up my workouts again, I have stuck to my nutrition plan and by tomorrow afternoon I will be out of my controlled environment for 4 days- plenty of time to undo any changes I have made this week. Then I realized that the holidays were coming up and I would be doing more visiting and maybe I should just wait until the first of the year and start then…..
Hello!? Do we see a pattern here?
There is no magically monday (I am as upset as anyone by this!). But what do I do now? I know what I want, but all this other stuff will get in my way. This shift in attitude is completely new to me, but I think I should take control. I can choose NOT to eat 3 fudge rounds sitting in the kitchen with my mother, I can choose to half my portion of starchy carbs at the banquet (or trade for my husbands veggies), and I can share a small dessert with my daughter (who hates to eat unhealthy food) at the upcoming holiday dinners. Hum….what a concept-control over what I choose to do…I said this was new to me 🙂
Attitude shift-check, next stop Goal setting.
Have a great weekend everyone!
Great blog! There’s always tomorrow – but really – IS THERE? Tomorrow is not a guarantee – but today is! Start today, start right this minute!
I could relate to so much of what you wrote! I feel this way everytime I visit my parents… they just eat and eat! Last time I was there my dad had bought 3 boxes of donuts! It is a choice, and I had to push those wonderful smelling donuts aside for black coffee and oatmeal. I now go to their house prepared with my own food and snacks.