It’s all up to me

I will be writing about days 3-5 since I left my book at school over the weekend.

Day 3 of book (Do it anyway)

This is something that I need to remember.  When everything is going well there is no problem but as soon as I’m tired or hungry for something it’s so easy to find excuses.  Instead of giving in I need to “Do it anyway”.  My sister and I were talking this weekend and I explained that when I’m in the exercise/diet zone that things are automatic, I don’t even think about not making good choices.  It’s like car seats.  I would never think of driving without buckling my kids into their car seats, healthy choices needs to become that way for me.

Day 4–Boundaries

My narrow path includes my typical eating plan:  3 hardboiled eggs for breakfast, 2 cheesesticks for snacks before lunch, a lo-carb diet drink for lunch, 15 almonds for an afternoon snack and 1 lo-carb bar when I need it most.  After school I will have a snack when I get home and then a supper of protein (chicken, fish, hamburger) and some veggies.  I know, kind of boring but it’s automatic and doesn’t require any thought.  That’s where I get into trouble, when I have choices to make.  My wider path includes more of the same things, except the nuts.  Like yesterday, I ate my normal stuff but I was still hungry.  I waited a while to make sure it was actual hunger (which it was) so I just ate more of my approved foods.  Even though I felt wrong at first eating more than usual I just reminded myself that if I’m truly hungry that I need to eat and they are all foods that will get me to my goal.

Day 5–magic notebook.  Although I read this the last time I used this book I forgot all about this technique.  Using a “magic notebook” (aka this blog) write down when you are having a particularly strong food craving.  That way the feeling is acknowledged but I realize it doesn’t have power over me.  If the craving continues I can decide what to do later but I don’t have to act on it right now.  A year or two ago I tried a similar tactic.  I was picking up Burger King for my hubby  and I planned to get a salad for myself.  On the way to the drive thru I said out loud to myself in the car “I do not want a burger and fries, I am going to order a healthy salad.”  It took a few times to convince myself of this but by the time I placed my order Ihad no problem ordering my salad.  Secret eating is something I struggle with so the fact that I overcame the desire to order something and wolf it down in the car before I got home was a huge accomplishment for me.

Whew…a lot of writing.  This will teach me not to forget my book again.  Have a great Monday,

Brandie