December 15, 2021
Dear WW Philadelphia Members,
Here we are, in the season where you wonder if you can say "no, thank you," one more time and sound like you mean it.
Every food pusher and baker you know is in their ultimate glory. All the holiday and year-end events give them carte blanche to bake another batch of cookies and make sure everyone they know gets an opportunity to enjoy the season.
After nine months of a good progressive weight loss, I came into December telling myself I’ll be happy with maintenance and giving myself some permissions for some of the ‘extras’ I knew would be all around me on a regular basis.
I say this because one of the most important parts of weight loss and maintenance is feeling successful and in control. For me, this means I need to adjust my parameters of what ‘in control’ or ‘successful’ looks like during December.
Even the learning of eating some of what I might be craving instead of a whole lot of something I’m trying to substitute for the THING I want has been a big step. Something I say to myself often is, ‘eat it like a naturally thin (healthy weight) person.’ Enjoy the taste, texture, and aroma. Stop when I’m just satisfied, I can have more later or tomorrow. I’ve never been one of those dieters that can substitute cauliflower for popcorn or one of the other amusing substitutes of Weight Watchers past.
There is so much more to food and especially holiday foods than just filling our tummies. Like memories of cooking or eating with special family members or friends; remembering the first time we ate a particular food and who we ate it with. Food is essential to life. Food is one of the joys of life. Food cannot be treated like the enemy.
Years ago, when trying to explain managing my food intake to darling husband (I call him that even when he doesn’t deserve it), I said, "there are many unhealthy habits you can stop cold turkey and live your life well without ever doing it again. Eating is different, we must eat and eat well for a good life. Instead of going cold turkey, we need to eat 3 or more times per day. It’s not as easy as simply pushing away our plates."
So, back to me, feeling like I’m in control throughout December...I eat foods and treats that mean ‘holiday’ to me. I stop at one or two. I weigh in once a week and I’m excited to start January at a weight I haven’t seen in an exceptionally long time.
It all comes down to kindness. We need to be kind and forgiving to ourselves. Filling our own buckets up with kindness allows it to overflow to others.
Isn’t that what the holidays are about?
Have a beautiful week,
