[CHANGES] How Sweet It Is

[Sandra Ahten]

How Sweet It Is

I was traveling for a week to a painting workshop in the hills of Kentucky. 
I’d be residing in a hotel at night and spending the days at a remote art 
studio. I had a plan of sorts – pack a cooler with low calorie sandwich 
makings, fruit, and veggies. Have a breakfast of cereal and fruit in my 
room. Lunch lightly and feel free to have a nice dinner.

To my surprise the hotel offered a free breakfast that included making your 
own fresh waffle. And then the studio refrigerator was well stocked with 
lots of goodies for us including a three pound bag of chocolate kisses. 
Hmmm. You see where this is going. That 7 pounds that I took off last month, 
looked like it was finding its way back pretty quickly.

Not that the waffles and the kisses necessarily did me in, but something set 
off in my brain that felt like I was being pushed along by a wave of 
sabotage. One night I went to Burger Kind for a veggie burger, but ended up 
ordering French fries and onion rings to go along with it. I don’t even like 
their onion rings!

Well I had a good talk with myself on the last morning in Kentucky. I got 
myself on track by doing some writing. I discovered that I was feeling 
nervous both about some family difficulties that took a turn for the worse 
during my absence. I was also nervous about working with some awesome 
artists.  I decided to let go of my negative assessment of my past week and 
decided to really enjoy the last day and the drive home.  I started 
journaling my food consumption and that swung me right back on track.

The next day two days – I was completely in control on intake and I was back 
to my exercise routine. Oh how great it felt. Really, really sweet.

Yesterday I rode 50 miles on my bike. And then I passed on dessert and 
instead had a  fudge bar from Dairy Queen. (Only 1 WW point™) I felt great. 
I was eating in control, even though I had a 50 mile bike ride as an excuse 
not to.

I was so aware of the contrast in my feelings about myself. Feelings of 
accomplishment are such sweet feelings. Feelings of self hatred or disgust 
are so bitter and so consuming. I believe that our negative feeling about 
our eating are so magnified, because it is the one and maybe only area of 
our life we do have control over.

We all have periods of slipping and sliding on our path to healthy eating. 
The important thing is to remember what is truly sweet—those feeling of 
accomplishment --  and then to find the sure footing back there as soon as 
possible. Changing your diet is not a straight paved road, for most it is a 
slippery winding path. Make sure you are giving yourself the tools that you 
need.

1)	Get plenty of rest. We over eat as our bodies scream for calories (which 
equals energy) to keep us going.
2)	Don’t isolate. Talk to someone about your anxieties in general. Find 
support for your diet.
3)	Allow time for meal planning and preparation. Look at your day planner 
weekly and pencil in times for shopping and food preparation. Put the steps 
on your to-do list, so you get that feeling of accomplishment as you check 
them off.

Be Well,

Sandra

©2004 by Sandra Ahten

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