Test of my Resolve

[Jackie]

Today I went to the mall and faced a mini-test of my resolve -The Food Court! Right at the entrance of the mall I was hit by those sweet aromas of philly cheesesteaks, chinese food and pizza all working in unison to throw me off my game. I used to get a philly cheesesteak complete with a soda and cheese fries...and then to boot would get a pretzel on the way out. This was my "mall ritual" even though 98% of the time I had already eaten before I got there but devoured this temptation food anyway because I lacked willpower.

Today, ohh today, I had a plan and I stuck to my plan. I made the conscious decision to eat a nutritious filling lunch before I left my house AND I brought a snack to eat in the car to fight the craving monster. Well ladies and gents when I walked in that mall and that tempting smell hit my body I was initially hit with a Pavlovian craving for it. This time, however, I walked by and didn't even take a Teriyaki Chicken sample that was offered to me.

I started a mantra in my brain:

I cannot change the outside world with all its delicious temptations but I can change how I react to it.

I chose to react to this food court scenario by remaining in control of myself and my cravings (because I was not physically hungry I just wanted it). I used to eat out all the time because it was a "special occasion" when it never really was, I was just eating out to eat out and my special occasions developed into a lifestyle before I knew it. I need to repeat these "resist temptation" exercise several times over and over until I change my behavior.

To change my behavior I must commit to a new life. I will not, however, commit to something I cannot do for the rest of my life which is why I will no longer follow a crazy diet or exercise philosophy. If I'm truly and honestly going to change my life I need to change my habits and accept that I can never go back to certain behaviors. Will I be able to exercise 2 hours a day for the rest of my life, um NO, so I don't commit to that. I CAN commit to not eating at a food court for the rest of my life and I do not feel deprived.

Does it make me sad to know that once I lose this weight I cannot go back to how I used to eat? -Well maybe a little sad but it is necessary to my evolution as a person to let go of what doesn't serve my interests for the better so that I can become something so much greater.

[Paula]

Awesome work! Isn't the head stuff so much of the battle? I can SO relate to the food court temptation - as I'm sure lots of people can. I agree that having a plan BEFORE going is so much of the battle won. These days when I need to run out, I pretty much always make sure it is not during a time when I will be hungry and almost always carry snack/fruit with me. Good work and great post! :)

[Shannon H.]

Well said. There are so many quotes I am pulling from this post for my motivation board. Thanks for being so quotable!!

[Liz]

Like you, I always used to view eating out as a special occasion and an opportunity to splurge. One day, I realized that eating in had become the special occasion and eating out was the norm. That's when I decided that I either had to stop eating out so much, or, when eating out, not to think of it as an opportunity to splurge, because, really, it wasn't. Great post - love your decisions :)

[Rachel]

Love this post! You're so strong.

[Erin]

"I cannot change the outside world with all its delicious temptations but I can change how I react to it."- LOVE THIS!