Challenges Met

Today was full of challenges but I got through pretty well. We went out to lunch at a place called Hibachi Grill. We have a similar place here in Asheville called Asiana. It's heaven. Absolutely Heaven. Every kind of oriental food you can imagine, along with a generous selection of American food and a great variety of deserts. And as if there weren't enough deserts, my mother-in-law brought along a birthday cake for Jay whose birthday is Friday. It was placed right in front of Jay and since we were sitting across from each other it was necessarily right in front of me. Fingers full of icing just waiting to be snatched.UGH!

I started by getting a plate full of mixed greens which I topped with green peppers and broccoli. I added a little cheese and a little honey mustard. Then I got steamed shrimp added them to my salad. In addition, I loaded up on fresh fruits. When cake time came, I was still working on the fruit. By the time I was ready for cake, everyone else was almost finished. So, I cut the tiniest piece I could--about three bites in all--and that was somehow satisfying. (probably because everyone was ready to go by then.)

Then tonight, we cooked pancakes and waffles for the youth at church. Instead of having a waffle, which I know has oil in it, I opted for the pancakes which are lower in fat. I had three--4.5 points--and syrup. It wound up being 9 points, but I had them to spend since I'd made good choices earlier.

What is amazing about conscious eating is how very satisfying it is. When I'm eating like a maniac, I never feel satisfied. I want more, more, more. But when I keep track, my daily points value is enough, or at least nearly enough. I always forget this and allow myself to slip back into the habit of mindless consumption, thinking that is the path to satisfaction. What a lie. It's that paradox: by choosing to control what I eat, I'm free to eat what I like. When I choose to allow my food choices to control me, I am in bondage to those choices, never able to satisfy the cravings.

I choose freedom. I choose to decrease,
Aileen
PS I did exercise yesterday! 1 hour brisk walking with my sister-in-law. Felt great!