staying strong through Christmas!

Heather is on Fire!! 

When we first started her program I asked how she felt about staying on the program through Christmas. She said," I'm ready to do it!"  How we  experience a challenge is more than half mental. The other part is showing grace under fire, as well as enjoying celebratory moments. A treat here and there is certainly okay, it's when it becomes the majority way we eat that we run in to problems. I was happy to hear that Heather was able to have a treat and enjoy the family food, while resisting her former tendency to indulge in sweet treats  to a "point of no return." Below Heather shares how she handled Christmas time!

Heather's Journal

CHALLENGES:  The Holidays.  I love holidays.  I love that sense of timelessness that practicing traditions at holidays brings.  I also love the food.  Sweets were rare in the household growing up, but on Christmas Eve, following the candlelight service, my parents would invite everyone back to the house for food and fellowship.  Mom would make cider, punch (lime sherbet with ginger ale), and a variety of other goodies.  I have a very fond memory of this time.

  

Candies, Cookies and
Chocolates Oh MY! Heather
Resisting the over
indulgence!

Come to think of it, all the holidays bring to mind fantastic food.  Valentines as an adult: Fondue at Mona Lisa's. Easter growing up: An elaborate Easter breakfast at the base Chapel following the sunrise service. 4th of July: Cookouts and ice cream. Halloween: (or Harvest Festival for us church children) candy and caramel apples. Birthdays: cake!  
As you can see, I have trouble separating my holidays from the foods I associate with them.


SOLUTION: I just have to admit that this is hard.  My usual solution is to direct my attention elsewhere or to withdraw myself from the temptations, but at these times when it is so very important to spend time with family, withdrawing is not an option.  Christmas Eve was delightful. Dusty and I went to Christmas Eve service at Grace & St Stephens Episcopal Church.  The only wine I had was communion, and then we went home and had nothing around to tempt us.  Christmas day was another story... At my in-laws I was greeted with the intoxicating smell of cinnamon rolls.  There were also cookies, candy, chips, dips, cheese, crackers... At least they also set out a bowl of celery for me.  LOL! I spent hours around the yummy stuff and it was torture.  By the time dinner rolled around, I had finished my coffee, eaten my snacks, and was dangerously close to eating a cookie.  Instead I had a piece of chocolate and  waited for dinner.  I piled my plate high with lettuce, and ate an entire piece of tenderloin.  I was surprised that I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, but even so, Christmas was hard, and it didn't feel the same without the food component. 

Dustin and I last year at Christmas!

It really does seem to be a mind game, where I have to actively direct my mind in a good direction, to keep myself from slipping.  Here are my top techniques:
- Envisioning what I want my final day of the   challenge to look like.  And where I want to be 3 months from now.- Remembering where I started and reminding myself of the progress I made and reminding myself how good that progress feels.- Thinking of the people who have sponsored me or invested in my success in some other way.  I can't let down my shareholders! - When all else fails, I cling to my vices that aren't so bad: coffee.  I drink a lot of black coffee in social food-related situations nowadays..   So basically, yesterday was hard, but I woke up today feeling like a different person, because I did something that I haven't done before, something that I really didn't think I would follow through on.



HEATHER's workouts this week include adding jump roping after every strength exercise!!!