Sometimes I wake up and wonder if I’ll find something to write about. Something that will either give me an “Ah-ha” moment or at least help me to reflect on this LCJ. I wonder if the day will just go by and nothing will strike me as important enough to ponder…
And then I stumble upon it.
You can see people at my office making better choices. Drinking water, instead of pop. Reaching for fruit, instead of the chocolate drawer. Taking stairs instead of the elevator. Making plans for walking a half marathon (which I will be participating in with them) and starting their own ventures with c25k.
People are bringing in more conscious type foods and today someone brought sweetened banana chips. I love banana chips but I don’t love them right now. I’m pretty used to just sticking to what I have in my cubicle drawer and what I pack for my daily snacks to get me through the day. I don’t languish over the fact that I’m not eating chocolate or that I can’t ever have sugary treats ever again. I can. In fact if I wanted to today I could.
I don’t want them.
I was asked if I could eat the banana chips? To which I said yes I could, but I probably won’t. The reply to that was “Oh you’re being that good”. I know it wasn’t meant as anything but a simple reply but in hindsight it got me really thinking…
What exactly does that mean “Oh you’re being that good?”
Am I supposed to be doing bad things or are there levels of “goodness” to my new eating less / moving more habits? If I sustain from eating anything sweet or slightly “bad” do I go up a level? Am I trying to obtain a level 80 on this game? Where the hell is my Gnome Mage?
Over the past 4 months I’ve taken some serious soul searching paths to find out who I am and what I’m capable of doing. While on these paths, I find myself not wanting to eat anything that might cause me to feel upset, ashamed, defeated or frustrated. I want to eat cleaner, healthier and more consciously. Of course I can eat whatever I want and what I want right now doesn’t include anything but the foods that make me feel good about the choices and decisions that I’m making.
Everything I do right now has a consequence. Either positive or negative. Every time I put food in my mouth, I’ am taking control of the consequences. Every time I go to the gym, I am taking control of the consequences. Every time I run, I am taking control of the consequences.
Yes, it’s challenging. Yes, it’s difficult. Yes I cry a lot on this LCJ. I feel frustrations and disappointments. But for me there is no other alternative. I can either live a life of being fat and unresponsive to the world around me or I can start moving and live the life that was put before me.
So today I won’t eat banana chips.
Not because I’m being “That good”.
But because I am taking control.
Are you taking control of your life?
If the answer is no
What can I do to help?
It never worked for me at that place we worked, winning people over to eat better than the supplied snacks and take the stairs; maybe people were too shut down to care or maybe I’m just too pushy.
The thing I notice when people say things like, “Oh, you’re being that good,” is that they say it with their voice full of implication that you are denying yourself, that you must be suffering. Like, what’s so great, in the long run, about what they’re getting from eating the whoppers?
Yhea I should have listened to you sooner…
mmmmmm whoppers!
Am I trying to obtain a level 80 on this game? Where the hell is my Gnome Mage?
Dude, you just made me laugh out loud. GREAT post, and bonus points for the funny!
bonus points????
Is this another level?
It takes you to the secret world where you can get tons of lives!
Hmmm unlimited lives???
KICK ASS!
“If I sustain from eating anything sweet or slightly “bad” do I go up a level? Am I trying to obtain a level 80 on this game? Where the hell is my Gnome Mage?”
LOL hummm…I am still a noob at this “game” then I guess. I am level 1 with no spells and on my quest to reach my epic mount…the ARC TRAINER!
Loved the post!
damn noobies!
ahhhh….wow
My husband played wow forever…
That made me laugh…I had the opposite issue…Our family eats out about once a month and someone gets to pick the meal…my husband picked.
We haven’t had ‘drive thru food’ in eleven months. He picks KFC.
I was afraid of buying it and eating it.
like it was some sort of magical potion or evil spell…lol.
It isn’t any different from eating pizza…I think I was afraid my drive thru mania would come back and I wouldn’t be able to control myself.
Now I realize..I always controlled myself.
I just didn’t know it then.
I know it now.
Not only do you know it but you are showing us the way!
I had a similar experience with a doughnut earlier this week! I just wasn’t that into the idea of it when it was offered. Of course, I’ve been borderline obsessed with doughnuts since, but I’ve had plenty of opportunities and I haven’t had one. And I won’t.
It’s weird the reactions of people when you turn food down…I hope they stop asking eventually lol