Mother's Day, Father's Day, Graduations, Oh My!!

Happy Mother's Day (a few days late).

This is the time of the year where I feel that celebrations abound and they evolve around food.  This past Sunday we celebrated Mother's Day. We had a great Mother's Day celebration in my family. We went away for the weekend with my mom, my brothers and their families.  It was a great time.

As we were making the plans for the weekend we found it necessary to include plans for food.  Thankfully, we were going to a home where we had access to a kitchen and could bring our own food.  I find pre-planning so important in these instances. We divided up the meals and each brought food for our assigned meals.  I brought foods that I thought would be fun for everyone to eat but also would be friendly for me to eat when watching my carbs and points.  I also brought plenty of fruits and veggies to snack on.

I enjoyed a conversation with my mom before the trip where we shared our current weight and diet struggles and triumphs. It helped me to know that my mom shared some of my goals for the weekend.  It helped me to know that she wasn't expecting to eat a bunch of junk during our fun weekend and I wouldn't be ruining anyone else's weekend by bringing my healthy foods.  It would actually enhance her weekend to know that she had healthy choices.

Overall, the weekend went well.  On Friday I stuck to my points and stayed away from processed carbohydrates like I have been in my daily life. It was pretty easy to do since we didn't get to the cabin until dinner time.  On Saturday, I ate some things I wouldn't normally eat.  My brother and niece made french toast and sausage for breakfast. I ate just a little.  The rest of the day I let myself indulge a bit here a there.  I ate chips that I wouldn't normally eat.  I ate some homemade strawberry rhubarb cake.  I ended the day eating more than I would have on a usual day but not stuffed.  I did not track on Saturday.

On Sunday, I knew that I would have a great Mother's Day if I remembered to take care of myself.  I ate small portions and tracked them. I was careful for lunch to avoid the bread that came with my salad and didn't eat even one tortilla chip that everyone else was eating from the middle of the table.  I knew that it was Mother's Day and I could use that as an excuse to have more than I wanted but knew that I would regret it later. I enjoyed my healthy salad and worked it into my day.  On our drive home we found ourselves with some extra time to kill before going to mass in the evening.  Bryan suggested that we stop at Kopp's for frozen custard.  I knew that Kopp's would put me over my budget a little for the day but I also knew that I had purposely saved some points knowing that we are a family who likes our dessert on special occasions.  I enjoyed my mother's day custard.  I also enjoyed knowing that I burned lots of calories on our 2 hikes over the weekend.  The activity of the weekend would help me earn that yummy frozen yogurt.

Here is Sammy and me on one of our hikes.  It was fabulous that my family was willing to get so active on a vacation together. It was cold and windy this day but we still kept hiking.

I lost 4 pounds last week at my weigh-in.  I know that I will not lose 4 pounds this week.  I may not even lose 1.  I indulged a little but I feel good about it. I didn't take any of it to excess. I will be okay if I lose a small amount this week or even maintain.  Some occasions call for maintenance.

This has got me thinking about the other occasions coming up.  As I look at my calendar I can see how busy it is.  We will be eating dinner at church this weekend one night. We will be eating breakfast out one morning. We are going out to dinner with some friends next week.  Those are not occasions where I have to let things go.  I can eat just enough to have a great time but not ruin my hard work thus far.  The next week we have a birthday/graduation party to go to.  The following week will be Samuel's birthday, Bryan's birthday and a party to celebrate Gabriella's birthday too.  Next will be Father's Day.  Then we have another graduation party.  Do you get where I am going here?  This is the season for many parties, many occasions, many celebrations and much food.  If we use every single one of those occasions as an excuse for overdoing things we will find ourselves gaining weight and being unhealthy.

Look at your calendar. Does every occasion warrant too much food or can you eat normally for some of the occasions and just have a bit more for others?  Which occasions will be maintenance weeks and which ones will still be lose weight weeks?  Think ahead. Plan ahead.  It can make all the difference.

Have a great day,
Corinna

"For it was you who formed my inward parts; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth." -Psalm 139:13-15