What I found out about myself while I was gone...

Ready for it? This is what I learned about "ME" while I was gone on this weekends Ladies Retreat.
I AM SO NOT "SUPERWOMAN!"

Ok, there are MANY things that I CAN resist gracefully. There are SOME things that take a little more self control, and there are SOME THINGS that can make me fall down on my face like a blubbering IDIOT. Chocolate at MIDNIGHT is ONE of these things!

Yep, you read that right...not just chocolate, but 2 GORGEOUS CHOCOLATE FOUNTAINS...That's right! Chocolate Fountains! Who would have THOUGHT I would have encountered SUCH a thing on a Ladies Retreat?

There were over 500 ladies at this thing, so the first meal was served to us, and it consisted of bar-b-qued pork, baked beans, cole slaw, potato salad, corn on the cobb, rolls, and apple cobbler. SO, of course I had to eat what was served to me...even though it WAS FULL OF CARBS, and I knew it meant imminent destruction to my diet for the rest of the weekend. However, I CHOSE to eat this weekend, right? Yes, and I was going to enjoy myself.

Well, we met at 7:00 for the services. At 9:30 it was still going strong, and I was exhausted. At 11:30 it was finally over, and they told us to go back to the cafeteria, and we would have refreshments before bed. So, I get in line with the rest of the ladies, at MIDNIGHT. What I saw next nearly made my knees buckle! A huge table with Hawaiian bread, and spinach dip, broccolli, little smoked sausages, angel food cake with sweetened stawberries, and Cool whip, and a GORGEOUS bowl of punch. I grabbed a few pieces of broccolli, and a little dip, and thought I'd be OK. Then I saw it...I couldn't believe my eyes. A HUGE table with two of the most lovely 3 tiered fountains, pouring with CHOCOLATE, and a HUGE platter of the most BEAUTIFUL BIG JUICY STRAWBERRIES you have ever seen.

I'll sum it all up right here....I WAS BAD.
It was one eating adventure after another, the whole time and very few options for healthy choices! I guess the purpose of these things are to get away, and ENJOY yourself, and I DID. I thoroughly enjoyed myself, and I was VERY afraid to get on the scales this morning. Well, I gained 4 pounds. Yep 4.
I'm not TOO upset because with all the sodium I consumed, I'm sure a lot of it is water, but NONETHELESS....it's TIME TO GET BACK TO WORK!

So, today is like Day 1 SS for me. I'm drinking my Crystal Light, and having my soup, and wondering....WAS that chocolate REALLY worth it? And you know what...
This time I have to say YES IT WAS. You cannot be perfect ALL the time, but you DO have to get RIGHT back on the wagon. You can't just keep endulging in things that are meant to be enjoyed ONLY on special occassions.

I have been living my WHOLE life like everyday is a special occassion, and yes, everyday that we have here on earth IS a celebration, but you don't have to EAT like it's one. There are SO many more ways to celebrate without FOOD. For instance, just painting your nails can lift your mood. Tanning in a tanning bed for a few minutes does WONDERS for your mood. Not only does it make you TAN, but the "fake Sunlight" produces endorphins, and THAT makes you feel good. If that's not your thing, spread on a fake tan....sun in a bottle!

Paint your toenails, or treat yourself to a nice hot bubble bath, and do a face mask. There are SO many ways, we women can TREAT ourselves, and food does not have to have ONE little thing to do with it. So, remember...you are NOT superhuman. There are EVENTS that call for celebrating with food. BUT, everyday is NOT a celebration of food, and every morsel of "bad choices" comes with it's own set of consequences. It may not be 4 pounds of consequences, but it can be sabotage for your willpower, or your diet, if you don't keep the right mindset.

If you think you can handle the diversion, go for it, but STOP IT, as soon as the celebration ends. EVERY DAY IS NOT A CELEBRATION OF FOOD!