[CHANGES] It is not Thanksgiving!

[Sandra Ahten]

Hello Friends,
Here is a bit of an "inspiration" message from me to you… although honestly, 
it is as much from me to me. I need to remind myself of these things. Then 
following is a short update on my life and some art related news. Please, 
please if you live in the area mark your calendar for Friday and Saturday 
December 5 and 6 as I am participating in an "open studio" gala event and 
would love for you to come and see my new studio and new art work. Details 
below.

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No it is not Thanksgiving and it’s not Christmas.

I’d blown it this weekend and atrociously over ate. I told myself I was 
going to get some exercise every day last week and succeeded in only making 
it to the gym twice. There was snow on the ground this morning and 
Thanksgiving is only four days away. Why eat healthy today?

There is always going to be a number of reasons to justify indulging in old 
habits. There are always excuses for everything. I’ve been finding that most 
of my excuses begin with  “yesterday” or “tomorrow.” But when I’m willing 
focus to on what I can do today that is a whole different story. What about 
today? What can I do today?

So yesterday, I morning I got up at 6:00 and got ready to go to the gym. As 
my car began to defrost and my breathe was beginning not to make ice 
crystals on the windshield, the phrase “today is the first day of the rest 
of my life”  popped into my head. “Yuck, what sugary triteness that is,” I 
growled. And then a calm settled over me. Well it may be sugary triteness 
but it is true. “Actually,” I argued with myself, “it is just another way to 
remind me to live one day at a time.” This of course might also be 
considered sugary triteness but, well – it’s the sugary triteness that has 
reached down to me and pulled me through some very difficult times.

Resolved that there was nothing I could do about my weekend indulgences and 
nothing I could do today about the Thanksgiving feast four days down the 
road, I proceeded to the gym where I paced my way through 30 minutes on the 
treadmill and 15 minutes of weight lifting. That accomplished I headed home 
and planned what I would eat that day. I went to the store and loaded up on 
fresh veggies, including the makings for a low point vegetable soup.

With just a little planning and avoiding sugar altogether, I finished my day 
satisfied at 14 points. “That can’t be!” you are saying – and believe me I 
was telling myself the same thing. But as I’ve observed for myself before, 
focusing on high protein foods in the morning, avoiding sugar – which causes 
cravings -- and having plenty of zero point vegetables on hand makes it 
relatively easy. And success builds on success. I feel perfectly able to 
have a great day today. (I'm aiming for 21 points).

So I’m urging you to ask yourself what you are willing to do today. Even if 
you are reading this in mid-day – are you willing to get on the healthy 
eating bandwagon? If Thanksgiving is the excuse for this week, you will 
certainly find a way to justify it as the beginning of the “holiday” season 
– which can easily become  a reason to just keep going and going. Let’s make 
it a season of healthy eating instead. I don’t know about you, but frankly I 
can’t afford another five pounds at the end of the holiday season. I know 
those five pounds – I’ve fought them before. They weren’t easy then and they 
won’t be easy in January. I can’t afford to wait until after the holidays to 
get on the “healthy eating” wagon.

So pick your strategy for today. Prepare for it and then contemplate your 
strategy for tomorrow. Here are some ideas to get you going. You choose 
which one you are willing to do today. Stick with it – just for today. Doing 
so will empower you to make more healthy choices tomorrow.

-- Consume at least five servings of fruits and vegetables
-- Make a vegetable soup and cut up fresh vegetables to munch on
-- Pack your lunch
-- Measure and drink 40 ounces of water
-- Write down everything you eat
-- Count points, calories, etc. for everything you eat
-- Weigh and measure your food
-- Go to the grocery store with healthy eating in mind
-- Tell someone about your plan

Best wishes,
Sandra

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Personal update: My son has been released and so we have a lot to be 
grateful for this holiday season. I'm planning a ski trip to Colorado for 
January and am really looking forward to that. My husband Kevin who is a 
therapist who went into private practice last year has a thriving business. 
If you or anyone you know in the C-U area is looking for a professional ear, 
he works with individuals, adolescents, couples and families. His number is 
398-9066.
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Old East End Art HooHa
Holiday Show and Sale
www.arthooha.com
Shop for art and fine crafts from more than 30 artists at six East Urbana 
Studios -- including High Cross Studio where I will be showing my art. I 
will be including my new paintings and prints from this year and I've marked 
all of my art from previous years down by 50%. A chance to get original fine 
art at affordable prices! Please come just to say hi and browse. You can get 
directions to all of the participating studios at the above website. Or come 
to my studio and get a map there.
Directions to High Cross Studio:
DIRECTIONS:
1101 HighCross Road

Take Main Street all the way east through Urbana.  Two  miles east of 
Schnucks it curves to the left and intersects with Rt. 150 (University Ave). 
Take a right onto Rte 150.

OR

Take University Avenue east past Cunningham. At the Guardian Drive stop 
light take a right as University becomes Rte 150.
Then take a left (north) where Rte. 150 and Rte. 130 intersect. (north of 
the new postoffice). This is High Cross Road.

Look for the High Cross Studio Sign just pass the I-74 overpass.

Hope to see you there.

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