Well I sure learned my lesson this week!
I sometimes fall prey to a binge — great or small — that comes from a fear of not having the opportunity to have one of my planned “treat nights” anytime in the near future. How absurd is that, but it’s true. Because although I plan these treat nights as allowable, workable parts of my food plan, I still prefer to schedule them so that the next day is not a major work or other obligation day. My digestive tract almost assuredly will bloat no matter what amount of bread or dessert (and full disclosure, I’m quite sure the amount I eat is more than I need!) I eat. Normally this arrangement works quite well; on my clean eating days I’m not at all thinking about my treats; if anything I’m glad to focus on my clean foods. But it’s good for me to know that I have that treat coming up.
But sometimes my mind really plays tricks on me, undermining and sabotaging the works. And this week was not only a good example of that, but more comically, the whole rationale for it fizzled before my very eyes!
So it’s Monday. And suddenly, in the middle of the day, despite my humming along nicely on my day’s eating plan, it suddenly occurred to me that with the way my week and weekend were shaping up, there would be no room for a treat night. I couldn’t “treat” Tuesday night due to a busy work schedule starting early on Wednesday. No “treat” Wednesday because I had an important business presentation on Thursday. No “treat” Thursday because I had a corporate seminar to give on Friday. No “treat” Friday because we have a pool party to attend on Saturday. No “treat” on Saturday due to a family function on Sunday. And no “treat” Sunday as I have a busy work day Monday.
Can you see the rationalization going on here?
So of course, after much deliberation, I gave in and gave myself a “pre-emptive treat night” Monday night. Thankfully, not nearly as bad as I would have at one time, but for sure food I didn’t need that was not part of the plan initially.
And, being that I do try to stay as honest with myself as possible, I knew that by choosing that course, I was eliminating the opportunity for such an allowance later in the week.
So what’s done is done. Pick up the pieces and move on. Try to do better next time.
Except…..God sure has a sense of humor. For as of this moment….
- My Thursday business presentation was postponed;
- Friday’s seminar was canceled
- Saturday’s pool party had to be nixed
- Sunday’s family function has been moved to NEXT weekend
So at least FOUR of those supposedly “no treat” nights could have been a treat night after all, which means I had that panic binge for no reason, whatsoever.
OK, OK, lesson learned, the hard way!
