Resisting Temptation

Last night, I had a birthday party for my soon to be 20 year old son. I bought him a beautiful birthday cake with buttercream frosting and blue roses. I cut and served the cake to everyone. There was a little twinge of wanting some for myself. After all, I'm on maintenance and cake is listed in my little book of foods now. But I just ate my favorite fruit salad that I made - and allowed myself a slightly larger serving than usual. And when I got up this morning, I still weighed the same. I am happy I didn't eat the cake. It is so worth it to not indulge when those temptations come. I think saying no in the first few minutes and not entertaining the thought very long helps. Lynette

Good for you, Lynette. Isn't it amazing how good resisting temptation feels. The slice of cake would have been gone in a matter of minutes, and the guilt or negative feelings would have lasted so much longer. I'm still in the losing stage, and last week I had company over for dinner. I strongly suggested that they NOT bring their usual Italian Pastries over for dessert and I planned the dessert. I served strawberries and fat free cool whip and pound cake and ice cream. I stuck to the strawberries and cool whip. Everyone enjoyed dessert, including me....I enjoyed it more because I resisted the pound cake and ice cream AND didn't have left over pastries around the house the next day. Take care, Laurel

Hi Lynette, You know, your post raised a few thoughts in my mind. Is there a time when we are going to be able to eat that cake?? I mean, hell, isn't that the idea, to eat normal? I don't know though. For myself I have to treat my disease just like that, as a disease. I have to determine whether in my life I want to add the things in that got me to be over 350 pounds. A few weeks ago my other half lost his job. It was interesting the emotions that went on inside of me. I was at work and realized that there was half of a birthday cake in the fridge. I went to the office and opened the door and peeled off the foil. Mind you I hadn't eaten sugar in over 7 months, I probably would have died. I didn't eat it, needless to say. But I congratulated myself on finding my trigger, on dealing with it and moving past it. I'm glad to see you found the same strength!!!! Have a beautiful day. Donna

I've had the same thoughts. But what is eating normal? I know it is unreasonable to think that I would never eat cake in my whole life. I have my booklet that lets me know what a serving size is and how much of my daily food allowance it takes up. In the past on some of my unsuccessful diets, I had tried to figure out how much of those kinds of foods I could get away with and still say I was on my food plan. I'm going to try my best to keep those foods very limited. Lynette

What is eating normal?? Good question. I think our association with food in the past has forced us to determined that anything BAD is always bad. I know that now I CAN eat one bite of cake and move on. But I can't bring myself to do it. I just can't seem to be able to allow myself that without thinking I was bad. And if I am bad a little bit why won't I be bad a whole lot? Sick thought process, I know. But it's the one that is ingrained into our minds from the first "diet". I think that since so much of the association with food is psychological that I believe that if I stray even a bit that somehow all the work I've done so far is for nothing. No, I don't think I need counseling. I truly don't. Been there, done that. My relationship with food is so different then it has been in the past, and for that I am thankful. I just think that I have a lot of things to remember, to ponder, to mull about in my mind as I continue this journey. Figuring out I suppose how to integrate even more the person I was and the person I am becoming. Donna