*The title of this post was taken from the Everclear song of the same name*
Frequently, clients of mine will assume that my diet is 100% perfect all of the time. Perfectly timed, all healthy options, never eating desserts, chips or large portions of junk.
At times, some have assumed that I am gluten-free, sugar-free, meat-free, etc.
WRONG.
I will eat pretty much anything. I have a notorious hatred for onions (if I can smell them) and I’m not much on raw tomatoes unless they’re part of a spicy salsa.
Aside from that, I’m not terribly picky. However, people assume that due to my build and my profession that I eat like a saint, 24/7.
I will say, that I generally do eat in a health-conscious manner most every day. On the weekends, things can be scattershot. A couple of weeks ago, I got off to a decent start with an almond butter sandwich on sprouted grain bread. After that, my wife had her open house at our newest endeavor, a performing arts studio. There were cupcakes, cookies, cheese, fruit and meatballs. I had a little of everything.
Cookies are my weakness and I try to steer clear of them when I can. If they’re nearby, I’ll continue to nibble and pick at them to no end. Because I don’t indulge in desserts frequently, my “open house” diet made me feel like crap. From a calorie standpoint, I’m fairly certain I was in line with any other day. However, my food choices definitely made me feel less than optimal that day.
What I don’t do is spend a lot of time worrying about it. I know that after the weekend, I will get my diet back to my relative normal and any weight fluctuations will work themselves out within the first couple of days of the week.
It would be foolish of me to compare my normal to yours. If you are embarking on your weight loss journey, you may not be able to get as loose on the weekends as I do. Maybe you have a harder time moderating portions or you let one counterproductive meal lead to six.
For some people, I’ve even suggested getting regimented with the diet with no luxuries for a predetermined amount of time. For instance, if you really like milkshakes, maybe you treat yourself to a milkshake (just one, small/medium size) after you drop your first 10lbs. I don’t think it’s healthy to remove things indefinitely but I have seen that work really well for certain personalities.
I think everything has it’s right place. Know yourself, know your limits, and plan accordingly. If I had 30lbs to lose, knowing my adoration of cookies, I might find it easier to stay away from cookies until the weight came off. OR, I would find a way to keep cookies in the diet but in the smallest quantity possible so I could tell myself I’m not totally deprived.
True to the title of the post, When It All Goes Wrong Again (and it will), you have to know how you’re going to swim in the deep end.
