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December 13, 2005
A CR Week That Maketh Even The Gods To Tremble
The holidays are hard times for almost everyone to stick to a healthy eating program of any kind, what with family food events, office holiday parties, and the constant deluge of sweet and salty gifts of all sorts. For me, it's not too bad, since my family and my Orange One's family are so incredibly supportive of our CR that they not only accept the way we eat, they eat our food and stick up for us in fights!
But this week is a tough one. Tuesday night: dinner out for birthday of one of my closest friends on earth, with the other of my closest friends on earth. Best BYO in town. Excellent wine, amazing food, cool kids.
Thursday: office holiday party at Cresheim Cottage Cafe, one of my favorite restaurants on earth.
Friday: fly away for family holiday weekend in NC with Dad and step-mom.
Big, high calorie, great food events.
So what am I going to do? What's my CR strategy?
Basically, I'm not going to worry too much about it. I'm eating my normal CR meals on the other days, including cooking a CR Christmas feast for a CR friend + MR on Wednesday night. I cut my breakfast cals back a touch, but not too much.
The thing is, food isn't a moral issue for me. It's not "bad" to eat a dessert, but it's often suboptimal for my nutrtion and my long term goals. So usually I don't do it. But if I have a few high calorie meals this week, I'm not going to obsess about it. I'll just keep the nutrition as high as I can, focusing on high quality protein (scallops, anyone? yum!) and keeping the carbs to a respectable minumum. There's a certain amount of flexibility built into my CR practice for times like these. I can be flexible because I know I can and will go right back to my 1200 calorie a day, nutritionally optimized on the computer CR diet. I no longer fear a long term slip... I'm way too used to eating the way I eat. It's fun to go out sometimes, but I find myself happy to return to my own cooking as soon as it's over.
Stay tuned... I am contemplating an experiment in January that might re-define my flexibility for awhile.
Now I'm off to pick up some psyllium husks on the way to the restaurant... MR needs to bake megamuffins!
Posted by april at December 13, 2005 4:19 PM
Comments
It can indeed be very difficult to stay on track when bombarded by delicious treats everywhere we go. Denying ourselves everything would take the joy out of the holidays (IMO) but indulging in whatever crosses our path can only lead to upset stomachs, zits, weight gain and other negatives. Been there, done that. Congratulations, April! You've developed a great strategy and a well balanced approach to the Christmas season. Sure you're not a Libra? JD :-)
Posted by: Judith at December 14, 2005 2:28 PM