Learning to Be Thin: Tricks and Treats

I'm still losing, which is good, and still learning, which is better!

This week was a short work week, so I spent part of it eating at home--always easier because I can eat things that I can't bring to work, like fried eggs and toast, one of my favorites. 

But it was also Halloween week.  John and I avoided the Halloween candy challenge altogether this year by not buying any candy and lying low in the house with the lights off upstairs until the whole trick-or-treat thing was over. I was going to try to buy only candy we didn't like, but John requested the moratorium, so I went along with it.  At first, I didn't think it would work because kids might ring our doorbell anyway and it would be kind of annoying.  But that didn't happen, so we spent a peaceful evening and afterward didn't have Halloween candy left over and lurking.   Of course, people at work had some on offer, but since I didn't go to work until November 2nd, I avoided most of it and didn't eat any of what was still left by Wednesday.

I did go out to lunch once this week for a celebration, and succeeded in choosing food that was mostly allowed on my meal plan, taking half of it back to work afterward.  So that worked out too.  It wasn't easy, but instead of focusing on food (something I would've done not long ago), I focused on conversing with my coworkers while secretly observing their eating behavior.  For instance, I noticed my thin colleagues didn't finish all the food on their plates, while one of my obese colleagues ate everything on his plate and then took offered leftovers from a thin colleague. Poor man--he was a victim of the "I hate to see good food go to waste" subterfuge. I would've fallen for that one myself not long ago, but this time I didn't bite (ha!).

I took a few longing glances at my boss's uneaten french fries, though, telling myself that they looked kind of pale and cold and not worth eating.  I doubt if he had ever intended to eat them; they just came with the sandwich and he simply ignored them.  Need I mention he's Fred-Astaire-thin?

I find this kind of "research" very helpful.  It solidifies my ideas about what kinds of behavior keep people fat (or thin) and reinforces my desire to change those behaviors.  Change is easier, I think, when we are aware of the path we are on and clearly see the path we want to follow in the future.  (Notice I didn't say "going forward"--how I detest that phrase!!)

So, the week coming up will be another short one, filled with the usual challenges and opportunities to learn and grow.  I'm looking forward to it. 

See you next time!