Mastering “Freestyling” |
I’ve had a life-long love affair with structure. When there are rules, guidelines, plans, parameters, goals, etc…I respond instantly, positively and with gusto. It feels rewarding to know I’ve stayed within a boundary or obeyed a rule…that makes me happy. My left brain and I are BFF.
So…freestyling is a challenge. What I mean by freestyling in this context is–I’m out all day without access to to my regular “approved” meals or snacks…how do I (can I?) make good judgement calls regarding food on a day where I happen to eat out all 3 meals and had not scoped options in advance? Is it even possible without going on a wild goose chase or making my family think I have OCD about food? My overall goal through this program is to have a more healthy lifestyle–and be normal at the same time.
This weekend my husband and I took our 3 year old ice skating for the first time. We wanted to arrive as early as possible to avoid the downtown crowds and risk our little darling being run over on the ice. My 6-month old came along as well–full family outing. Our day did NOT go as planned due to various meltdowns, wet socks, spit ups and stroller failure. We were downtown almost the entire day and one of the additional stresses I had on my mind as I cradled my screaming child was “where am I going to feed may family and not blow it myself?” I dared not mention this in front of my husband due to the seemingly inconsequentialness of that paranoia…but it was real to me.
Well, I ended up doing just fine…tomato soup and a simple half turkey sandwich isn’t going to kill anyone and I was surprisingly able to resist the tempting ice creams or yummy hot chocolates that everyone else deserved after such a trying day. (Cappucino did the job fine, thanks). And the fact that I didn’t WANT to pig out led to me making decent choices…I knew I didn’t want to hate myself afterward and I actually remembered that BEFORE I ordered my food. So I did ok…and I’m happy because that is how I want it to be from now on. We will rarely ever eat out 3 meals in one day again, but it’s nice to know I can survive it once in a while. Well…survive the food…we are still getting over the ice skating!
Did anyone else have a good freestyling success? Share it because we all want to know!
January 23rd, 2007 at 12:15 am
Mary Ellen, I must admit that my whole life is freestyling in the extreme. I’ve always resisted structure, rebelled against it at the very least. Yet a bit of structure would probably do me good since I’m not very disiplined.
I guess that’s why I’m here!
Marna
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:12 am
Seems like Marna, I’m all about the freestyle too. I chafe against routine and “authority” and diets rarely work for me because no one is going to tell me what to eat!
I’m struggling with how to make the decision to eat better and exercise my own - so that it’s something I’m choosing to do and feeling good about as opposed to eating 10 jumbo marshmallows because no one can tell me not to.
The other thing that makes me crazy are those height/weight charts the insurance company uses. Your experience, that even at your ‘good’ weight you are a risk is so annoying. Even when I have been thin, and exercising and healthy, I’m still just heavier than other people my same height and clothing size. Some of us are just more dense than others (heavier body frame maybe? thicker bones?) and I think it’s terribly old school that those charts dictate so much. I remember going for my annual physical and being in the best shape of my adult life and having my dr. tell me to lose 10 pounds based on the chart. Ugh.
January 23rd, 2007 at 11:18 am
Mary Ellen,
I feel like you are I are very much alike! My parents used to ask me why I wasn’t breaking any rules, but it’s like you said, I feel good when I stay within that boundary. I’ve never heard anyone say that before!
Also, I felt liek you hit home when you said “I actually remembered that BEFORE I ordered my food”. That is one of my biggest hurdles, I just want to satisfy the craving so I order everything and then once I order it, I eat it, even if I don’t really need it. And then of course, I regret it… So I’m going to start trying to remember BEFORE I order!
Great advice!
January 24th, 2007 at 12:59 pm
Mary Ellen - I know exactly how you feel…being on a 12 day long business trip requiring drinking, eating and more drinking it’s hard to keep a balance. And when the food is “provided” you don’t have much choices. I try and eat half of what I get served (and believe me - I won’t starve…) and I really have cut down on the number of glasses of wine in social settings (rotate glasses of water). And I never order dessert - but I do sample others (I’m not crazy!)
Good luck on your continued success!