Determined To Succeed

I know this is going to come as a shock to no one but eating is a very social thing. Conversely, weight loss goals are a very solitary thing. I never really thought about it in those terms before until just this morning.

You see, yesterday, after writing this hopefully-soon-to-be-award-winning, Hollywood-will-take-notice-and-make-a-movie-about-me-too-called-”Bill-&-Billia” blog I went to work out in the gym. After spending Friday at my second mixed martial arts lesson I was determined to get going to the gym and stuff so I did. I went, I did my half-hour on the elliptical, I did those incredibly hard but really cool reverse push-ups (which I do want to do every day to get used to them) and even practiced what is called a Turkish Get-Up (seated in a typical legs-crossed position, getting up by swinging a leg out and ending in a neutral stance). O.K. I know I’d have to show it to you for you to get it (hmmmmmm, maybe I will one day) but the point is I was working out and setting my mind to be all in a  “I’m going to be good today” mode.

That is the solitary part – and the part that sort-of flew out the window.

While I was mostly good with the food I ate for a “light” lunch, it was my dinner that killed me. And why? Because I was having a good time with good people and I went from solitary “I’m going to be good” Bill to “Oh, I’ll just have one or three more cookies” Bill.

Later on in the day I went to someones house for a wonderful get-together. There were great people and, moreover, there was food. Lots and lots of food. Meatballs, pulled pork, pasta, potato salad, bread, chips, dips, hummus, pita, soda…the whole bit. I found myself loading up lots on my plate. And why? Because it was part of the social thing going on. It was part of the laughing, story telling and bonding, that almost blind eating-without-thinking part.  That is the social part of it.

You guys know me by now. I love me some food. I also avoid buffets not because I don’t like them but because I like them too much and eating at someone’s house can be just like that. Ugh. Why did I eat so much.

I know it was just one day and I will work it off (especially Wednesdays and Fridays in martial arts) but that’s not the point. I’m a bit miffed I decided to let the solitary go in favor of the social…the personal goal in favor of the food, folks and fun. It may be only one day but I really do have to be smarter than that. It really is mind over matter, sometimes, and while I laughed up a storm and enjoyed myself immensely getting on the scale this morning was no laughing matter.

OK, I won’t be too hard on myself but I need to be hard enough to know better. I might be hungry going into a situation like that but that’s no reason to attack food like I’m going to war.  I may be going to something cool and social but that’s no reason to forget what I say to myself in my solitary moments…

…that I will be better today, eat right and do my best.

Deep breath. Again. OK, I’m a little better now…

…and a new, hopefully better eating day begins.